In the coming decades, the world will face an increasing burden of neurological disorders (ND) and an urgent need to promote brain health. These challenges contrast with an insufficient neurological workforce in most countries, as well as decreasing numbers of general neurologists and neurologists attracted to work in general neurology (GN).
In the fall of 2021, the president of the EAN (Prof. Claudio Lino Alberto Bassetti) created a task force (TF). Discussions between the EAN, AAN, and World Federation of Neurology (WFN) presidents at the 2020 Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies (PAUNS) meeting in Cairo also led to the inclusion of representatives of AAN and WFN in the TF. Additional representatives of the EAN and of other societies (including all regional neurological societies) were subsequently invited to join the TF.
During the 2023 EAN annual meeting in Budapest, attendees were asked to answer five questions concerning the current state and future of GN. The results of the survey, which was responded to by 307 congress attendees, representing less than 10% of the participants, found 75% of the responders identified GN as their main activity. In comparison, in a 2023 survey of the AAN, 28% of the members reported GN as their main field of activity (2023 American Academy of Neurology Demographics Report).
The EAN survey further found:
- 65% was the estimated percentage of time spent in GN during residency.
- 50% of the responders considered training in GN during residency sufficient.
- 89% of the responders expressed interest in more GN topics during the EAN congresses.
- 5% of the responders placed the income of GNs in the upper third of neurology.
This white paper aims to review the current situation of GN and reflect on its future.
The TF identified four relevant current and future challenges related to GN: (i) definition, (ii) practice, (iii) education, and (iv) research. The TF then identified seven initiatives to further develop GN at both the academic and community level. Finally, the TF formulated 16 recommendations to promote GN in the future.
Web design by Tribal Systems