WHO calls for better access to medicines to reduce vast treatment gap for neurological disorders

Despite the significant progress made in developing effective, safe, and cost-effective medicines that enhance the quality of life of individuals with neurological disorders, these medicines remain largely inaccessible.

A new WHO report, Improving Access to Medicines for Neurological Disorders, sets out the barriers that prevent access to these essential medicines, and presents a framework for action to address these challenges.

The impact of neurological disorders can be significantly decreased and quality of life improved, if people living with these disorders are provided access to the essential medicines they need. However, most people with neurological disorders struggle to access the treatment they need for their conditions because these medicines do not reach them or are too expensive.

Dévora Kestel, Director or WHO’s Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use.

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and over 80% of neurological deaths and health loss occur in low- and middle-income countries. The treatment gap (the difference between the number of people with a condition and those receiving appropriate treatment) for neurological disorders is extremely high, exceeding 75% in most low-income countries and 50% in most middle-income countries.

Evidence shows that the treatment gap for epilepsy, for example, can reach 90% in low-income countries – that means that 9 out of 10 people living with epilepsy do not receive the care and treatment they need.

Using epilepsy and Parkinson disease as tracer conditions, WHO published a report that sets out the complex and inter-linking challenges that prevent access to treatment for neurological disorders.

The report offers a framework for stakeholders to step up multi-level, multi-sectoral action and address the many barriers impeding sustained access to essential medicines for neurological disorders. The proposed actions address multiple areas across the health system, including policy and regulatory environments, health infrastructure and education systems. The report also emphasizes the importance of engaging with individuals with lived experience and the power of collaboration at country, regional and global levels, as well as among stakeholder groups.

Actions proposed in this report have clear synergies with the WHO Roadmap for access to medicines, vaccines and other health products. With the proposed approach for neurological medicines, we have a robust set of actions and a clear way forward to improve access to these essential medicines

Christophe Rerat, Senior Technical Officer in the Medicines and Health Products Division, WHO.

 This report is an important tool in the implementation of the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) 2022–2031, which is supporting countries to scale up access to the essential medicines and technologies needed to manage neurological disorders by 2031.

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