WCN 2019 Presidential Symposium

A Global Role for the World Federation of Neurology

Prof. William M Carroll, MB BS, MD, FRACP, FRCP(E)
President, World Federation of Neurology
Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Western Australia, and consultant neurologist at the Perron Institute, Perth, Western Australia

The WFN occupies a unique position in the field of neurology. In the face of increasing need, its challenging mission to foster brain health and quality neurology worldwide mandates action. 

The WFN is fortunate to be at the centre of the rapid growth in neurosciences and in the increasing awareness of the importance of neuroscience. Further, it has a strengthening organisational structure based on both geographical national member societies and disease topic related organisations. Such relationships facilitate the ready development of partnerships to strongly advocate for change to advantage the WFN mission and to confront challenges as they arise. 

The Global Burden of Neurological Disorders study has highlighted the importance of the WFN mission and the need for action. Non-communicable diseases are now outnumbering communicable diseases and neurological non-communicable disorders are the largest group of disorders. They are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death and are dominated by stroke, migraine and Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. Importantly, the total number of people affected is increasing despite age standardised rates remaining unchanged. The study has also illustrated the marked inequalities in neurological resources and in access to neurological care and these inequalities are most evident in low and low- middle income countries. 

By maximising its use of advocacy, education and increasing visibility, the WFN aims to grow its ability to improve the opportunities for brain health and access to quality neurological care. Promotion of the highly visible recurrent educational events, the annual World Brain Day and the biennial World Congress of Neurology, and growing its wide range of educational activities will bolster its ability to advocate more effectively. The fundamental importance of Brain health globally can be pursued with international organisations, inequities of access to quality neurological care can be tackled by developing systematic means to effect change in neurologically resource-limited countries through its Needs Registry and by its existing educational programmes. 

In these endeavours the WFN will seek the assistance of like-minded organisations who are already aligning their own efforts to these goals and who will be powerful partners for advocacy and change. We have the tools and opportunity. We must capture the moment and make a start.