The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a new implementation toolkit for the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) to help countries improve services for people living with neurological disorders.
The toolkit outlines specific actions and resources to improve care for people living with these conditions, in alignment with meeting IGAP’s 2031 targets.
According to a study released earlier this year involving WHO, neurological conditions were responsible for more than three billion cases worldwide in 2021, marking them as the current leading cause of ill health and disability globally.
The biggest neurological conditions globally include Alzheimer’s and other dementias, which affect more than 55 million people globally, and stroke, which has impacted more than 100 million people worldwide.
Globally, people living with these conditions face difficulty accessing treatments and services such as rehabilitation, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and may often face discrimination and human rights violations.
More than 80% of neurological deaths and health losses occur in LMICs, while high-income countries have up to 70 times more neurological professionals per 100,000 people compared to LMICs.
Launched in 2022 by the 75th World Health Assembly, the IGAP aims to strengthen policies, systems and services while raising awareness, reducing discrimination and fostering research and innovation for neurological disorders across ten targets for countries to achieve by 2031.
Intended for use by policymakers at national and subnational levels, as well as programme managers and service planners across various sectors such as health, social services, education, environment, finance, employment, justice and housing, the new toolkit aims to shape neurology policies and services, corresponding to five IGAP strategic objectives: prioritisation and governance; diagnosis, treatment and care; promotion of brain health and prevention of neurological disorders; research and information systems; and an approach to six specific high-burden neurological disorders.
Dévora Kestel, director, WHO department of mental health, brain health and substance use, commented: “Implementing IGAP requires the concentrated efforts of many stakeholders, with everyone having a part to play.
“Our mandate is to make it easier for countries to plan their actions in a way that suits their needs and objectives.”