Neurology gains global priority status

The end of May was a bit of a landmark moment for neurology. The 75th World Health Assembly announced the adoption of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders - in other words, neurology became a global priority for the first time.

OneNeurology, a partnership founded by the European Academy for Neurology (EEAN) and the European Federation of Neurological Associations [EFNA], and comprising many members and endorsers, have been campaigning for this since its inception and fully support the global targets and strategic aims set out in the plan:

• To raise the prioritisation of, and strengthen governance for, epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

• To provide effective, timely and responsive diagnosis, treatment, and care for all patients.

• To implement strategies for promotion and prevention of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

• To foster research and innovation into, and strengthen information systems, for epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

• To strengthen the public health approach to epilepsy.

Supporting people affected by over 400 different neurological disorders and spanning all ages from paediatric to palliative care, this global plan stands to improve the lives of billions of people across the world.

For more information:

• The World Health Organisation. The Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (2022-2031).

• Olesen J, Gustavsson A, Svensson M, Wittchen HU, Jönsson B; CDBE2010 study group; European Brain Council. The economic cost of brain disorders in Europe. Eur J Neurol. 2012 Jan;19(1):155-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2011.03590

• GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neurological disorders, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2019 May;18(5):459-480. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(18)30499-X. Epub 2019 Mar 14. PMID: 30879893; PMCID: PMC6459001.

• OneNeurology partnership