POLICY WATCH
World Health Organization developing new global action plan for epilepsy and other neurological disorders The World Health Organization (WHO) is in the process of developing an “Intersectional global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders” following the decision of the 73rd World Health Assembly. In this article, Stéfanie Fréel and Katrin Seeher of the WHO explain what this means for dementia policy. Background In adults, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability-adjusted-life years (11.6% of DALYs) and the second leading cause of death (9 million deaths per year). The largest contributors of global neurological DALYs in 2016 included stroke (42.2%), migraine (16.3%), dementia (10.4%), meningitis (7.9%) and epilepsy (5%). As of 2016, 52.9 million children younger than 5 years had
73rd Session of World Health Assembly
30 Dementia in Europe
developmental disabilities, the majority living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As is the case for dementia, access to services and support including to diagnosis, treatment and essential cost-effective medicines, for neurological disorders is insufficient, particularly in LMICs. For example, 1 in 10 people with dementia receive a diagnosis, while only 1 in 4 people with epilepsy receive treatment. There also continues to be
a lack of knowledge around neurological disorders, which in many countries is associated with high stigmatisation and discrimination. Dementia and other neurological disorders are associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 and are the second most common comorbidities in patients with COVID-19. Multilateral response To address the growing burden of neurological disorders, a meeting of the 146th Executive Board in February 2020, requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to expand the scope of its technical report on epilepsy by adding a new section on Synergies in addressing the burden of epilepsy and other neurologic diseases. This section was presented as part of agenda item 11.6 on epilepsy during the Seventy-third World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2020. Resolution WHA 73.10 requests the Director-General to develop an Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2021–2031 in consultation with Member States to ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response across multiple sectors. To support the development of the new action plan, WHO – through its Brain Health Unit – organised formal virtual consultations on the discussion paper for the Intersectoral global
