Wasay, M.

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eCommons@AKUDepartment of Medicine Department of MedicineDecember 2003Neurological Care in Pakistan: actions are neededM. WasayAga Khan UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_medPart of the Nervous System Diseases Commons, and the Neurology CommonsRecommended CitationWasay, M. (2003). Neurological Care in Pakistan: actions are needed. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 53(12).Available at: http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_med/148EditorialThe incidence or prevalence of major neurologicaldiseases in our country is not known. National health surveyi dentified 33% prevalence of hypertension in age group of45 or older.' There are 2.7 million diabetics and 20% adultmen and women using pan or tobacco.-' Although incidenceof stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage is not known but dueto high prevalence of cerebrovascular risk factors we canassume, that it is io less than any western country. Tetanus,rabies and polio are still prevalent in epidemic proportionsdespite availability of effective vaccines. Overall burden ofneurological diseases is 10-15% in different countries.Approximately 5 million people suffer from neurologicaldiseases in Pakistan. There are 70 neurologists for 140million people in Pakistan (one neurologist for every twomillion people). Out of these, 40 are trained in Pakistan.These 70 neurologists are concentrated in 15 hospitals inseven cities.This issue of JPMA is dedicated to neurologicaldiseases and availability of neurological care in Pakistan.Various original studies on epilepsy, meningitis, stroke,neurology training and neuroimaging facilities in Pakistanare reported. These studies indicate that neurologicaldiseases are highly prevalent in our society and as a countrywe are not properly equipped to prevent or treat theseproblems.Neurolouical diseases are at large, preventable,treatable and curable, if properly diagnosed and treated.Effective preventive and therapeutic strategy could not onlydecrease the disease burden in our society but also reducethe disability. Actions are needed in multiple directions bothfrom government health agencies and from private healthorganizations to improve this dire situation.Number of neurologists should be increased fivePerspectiveNeurology as a specialty of Medicine wasi ntroduced initially in Dow Medical College Karachi andKing Edward Medical College Lahore in the early nineteensixties. It was given the status of an optional specialty by thePakistan Medical and Dental Council for undergraduateVol. 53, No. 12, December 2003Neurological Care in Pakistan: Actions are neededWasayM.Department of Neurology, The Aga Khan University. Karachi.Future of Neurology in PakistanM. HayatMunawar 1-layat Clinic. Jail Road. Lahore.fold in next five years. This is possible by recruiting foreillntrained Pakistani neurologists and starting - 1 5-20 moreneurology residency programs. All major hospitals andmedical schools and universities must have a neurologysection or department. Federal government should allocatefunds for supporting neurology training programmes.A well equipped National Institute for NeurloygicalDiseases should be established by government with thesupport of private sector. This institute will serve as hub forneurological research, specialized training and quality care.All the neurology care hospitals and centers should belinked to this institute.Increasing public awareness about neurologicaldiseases and role of neurologists in treating these diseases isi mportant in improving quality of care in our country. Thiscould be done with the help of media. Neurolo~1icalsocieties must play a key role in this regard.A national health survey should be conducted fori ncidence and prevalence of neurological diseases.especially stroke, epilepsy, headaches, brain tumors etc.This survey will serve as the basis for long term planningrelated to neurological care. training and man power.Cost of care for neurological diseases is high due toexpensive, imported medications. In?munoglobulins.interferons, triptans and tPa are a few of those. The cost ofthese drugs could be reduced by local preparation orregulatory inodifcations.ReferencesNational health surve_~ of Pakistan 1995. Pakistan Medical and ResearchCouncil, pp. 50-51National health sune_v of Pakistan 1998. Pakistan Wdical and researcheounel1, pp. 72-73Hvder SS. Neurological training in I'aki,tau .1 Pal: Mcrl -\;sue2001;53:623-24.medical colleges. This implied that unlike the essentialmedical specialties it was not mandatory for a medicalcollege to have a separate department of NCLIh0101N forpurposes of its recognition by the P.M.D.C. The result wasthat many new medical colleges that were started from time576

Neurological Care in Pakistan: actions are needed

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Neurological Care in Pakistan: actions are needed

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