A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that despite significant progress in developing effective treatments for neurological disorders, gaps remain in treatment.
The WHO said in a statement on Monday that more than 75 percent of people in low-income countries and 50 percent in middle-income countries cannot access these life-changing medicines.
The director speaks
WHO Director of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use, Dévora Kestel, said access to essential medicines can greatly improve the lives of people with neurological disorders, but many face difficulties due to lack of availability or high costs.
She said: “The impact of neurological disorders can be significantly reduced and quality of life improved if people living with these disorders have access to the essential medicines they need.
“However, most people with neurological disorders have difficulty accessing the treatment they need for their conditions because these medications are not available to them or are too expensive.”
WHO noted that neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and that more than 80 percent of deaths and health losses due to neurological conditions occur in low- and middle-income countries, adding that the treatment gap between the number of people with a condition and those receiving adequate treatment for neurological disorders is alarmingly high.
Challenges
WHO used epilepsy and Parkinson's disease as exemplary conditions to highlight the intricate and interconnected barriers to accessing essential treatment for neurological disorders.
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The report highlighted challenges that impede the delivery of timely and effective care, and underlined the need for a concerted effort to address these barriers and improve health outcomes for people affected by these debilitating conditions.
Challenges include the affordability of healthcare and the high cost of pharmaceuticals, which pose significant challenges resulting in substantial out-of-pocket expenses that exacerbate the risk of financial hardship for individuals and families affected by neurological disorders.
Furthermore, lack of public awareness, inadequate health infrastructure and lack of specialized training among health care providers collectively hamper access to adequate care, including diagnosis and treatment.
She also noted that the absence of a robust national selection of essential medicines and regulatory hurdles further restrict access to life-saving treatments, adding that these challenges are exacerbated by existing health disparities, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries, including those living in poverty, rural areas and other disadvantaged groups, thus undermining efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
Framework for change
The report presented a comprehensive framework to facilitate collaborative action among stakeholders, spanning multiple levels and sectors, to address the complex barriers that impede sustained access to essential medicines for neurological disorders, thereby enabling a coordinated and effective response to address these challenges.
The recommended actions cover a variety of key areas within the health system, including policy and regulatory frameworks, health infrastructure and education systems.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the crucial importance of engaging people with personal experiences of neurological disorders and fostering collaborative efforts at national, regional and global levels, as well as among diverse stakeholder groups, to harness collective experience and drive meaningful change.
Christophe Rerat, senior technical officer at WHO's Division of Medicines and Health Products, said the report proposed actions to improve access to neurological medicines, aligning with the WHO roadmap and providing a clear path forward.
“The measures proposed in this report have clear synergies with the WHO roadmap for access to medicines, vaccines and other health products. With the proposed approach to neurological medicines, we have a robust set of measures and a clear path forward to improve access to these essential medicines,” she said.
Improving global access
According to the global body, the report serves as a vital instrument in the implementation of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) 2022-2031.
He noted that the plan aims to support countries in expanding access to essential medicines and technologies needed to manage neurological disorders in order to achieve significant progress by 2031.
He noted that several countries in particular are proactively addressing these challenges, with Ghana being an exemplary case.
The country has prioritized neurological disorders, including epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, and has taken concrete steps to improve their management. In particular, the recent revision of the national essential medicines list and standard treatment guidelines have incorporated several crucial medicines and clinical protocols for the treatment of neurological disorders, demonstrating Ghana’s commitment to improving health outcomes for affected people, he said.
In addition, she noted that a national coordinating committee for epilepsy and other neurological disorders is being established in the United Republic of Tanzania to provide expert technical support to policy makers, thereby improving the country's response to these conditions.
In addition, the medical supplies department is undertaking special procurement of essential drugs for neurological disorders to address prevailing access deficits, adding that the National Health Insurance Fund package for 2024 has been expanded to include several crucial drugs for neurological disorders, including epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
These significant advances were revealed to represent an important milestone in ensuring that more people living with these conditions can access the necessary treatment, thereby improving their health outcomes and quality of life.