Putting Epilepsy on the Global Health Agenda
The IBE welcomes the release of a new position paper from the OneNeurology Partnership—co-chaired by IBE CEO Donna Walsh—calling on UN Member States to formally recognise neurological conditions as a distinct pillar in the global response to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Published ahead of September’s Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, the paper urges global health leaders to give brain health the political recognition and investment it urgently needs. Among the conditions highlighted, epilepsy stands out as one of the most common and treatable neurological disorders—and one of the most neglected. Neurological Conditions: An Overlooked Priority in the Global NCD Response Although neurological disorders collectively represent the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally, they remain largely absent from past UN Political Declarations on NCDs. Epilepsy, in particular, has been overlooked—despite the availability of safe, low-cost medications that could help the majority of people control their seizures. In low-income countries, more than 70% of people with epilepsy receive no treatment. This is not due to a lack of solutions but to a lack of prioritisation. "The absence of epilepsy and other neurological conditions from previous declarations has had direct consequences for national funding. This [...]