New Delhi, October 14 (IANS). According to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released on Tuesday, one in three people worldwide is living with conditions that affect the brain, while neurological disorders claim 11 million lives every year.
New Delhi, October 14 (IANS). According to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released on Tuesday, one in three people worldwide is living with conditions that affect the brain, while neurological disorders claim 11 million (11 million) lives every year.
Stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, idiopathic epilepsy, neurological complications associated with premature birth, autism spectrum disorders and nervous system cancers were identified as the top 10 neurological conditions contributing to death and disability.
The report said that although these neurological conditions now affect more than 40 percent of the global population, less than one in three countries in the world still have any national policy to deal with neurological disorders.
Alarmingly, despite the high burden of these diseases, low-income countries have more than 80 times fewer neurologists than high-income countries.
Many low- and middle-income countries also lack national plans, budgets, and workforces.
Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization’s Department of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control, said, “With more than one in three people in the world suffering from diseases that affect their brain, we must do everything possible to improve health care to meet their needs.”
Farrar said, “Many of these neurological diseases can be prevented or treated effectively, yet most people do not have access to them. Particularly in rural and underserved areas (where even basic services like the Internet or primary health care are not available), where they are stigmatized or ostracized and face economic hardship. We must work together to ensure that “We must put patients and their families first and mental health must be prioritized and appropriately invested in.”
The report, based on data from 102 countries, revealed that 63 countries have a national policy to address neurological disorders, but only 34 countries reported having dedicated funding available to address them.
Without strong policy frameworks, health systems remain fragmented, under-resourced, and inadequate to meet the needs of patients and families.
Furthermore, essential services were also found out of reach for most people, with only 49 countries including neurological disorders in their universal health coverage benefit packages.
Critical services such as stroke units, pediatric neurology, rehabilitation and palliative care often remain limited or concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural and underserved populations deprived of life-saving and life-sustaining care.
The World Health Organization has urged governments to make neurological disorders a policy priority through bold leadership and sustained investment; Expand access to neurological care through universal health coverage and health system strengthening.
–IANS
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