Overview

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability globally and access to essential medicines for neurological disorders remains a critical global health challenge.

The Improving access to medicines for neurological disorders report comprehensively describes the status of access to medicines for neurological disorders worldwide. Using epilepsy and Parkinson disease as tracer conditions, it highlights the wide unavailability and unaffordability of these medicines, explores the different health system barriers affecting access, and showcases special scenarios where some of the challenges can be exacerbated. The report offers a framework for multi-level, multi-sectoral actions, and serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to commit to tangible, sustainable improvements in the accessibility of medicines for neurological disorders.

The report is intended for use by policy-makers, public health professionals, health programme managers and planners, healthcare insurance authorities, health-care providers, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, and prescribers working in national health ministries, in subnational health offices, or at the district level, as well as health initiatives led by nongovernmental organizations.

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Improving access to medicines for neurological disorders - World Health Organization (WHO)

The Neuro Care Network, a new joint operating agreement between MSU Health Care and University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, will offer more convenient local neurological services for an improved patient experience. Effective immediately, the collaborative effort will include inpatient and outpatient neurology, neurosurgery, electrodiagnostic and infusion service lines from both institutions.

MSU Health Care provides neurology services to thousands of local patients each year and we expect that number to continue to grow, said Seth Ciabotti, chief executive officer of MSU Health Care, the academic health system of Michigan State University. The Neuro Care Network enables patients to receive this high level of care as well as additional services. As MSU Health Care continues to build a health system of the future, partnerships like this will help us design experiences that revolve around the needs of patients.

MSU Health Care and University of Michigan Health have a history of working together to provide neurology care to the mid-Michigan community. MSU Health Care providers have supported patients at the MSU Clinical Center and University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, contributing to its designation as a comprehensive stroke center.

The agreement will formalize and advance having University of Michigan Health and Michigan State University neurological specialty providers work collaboratively on a variety of clinical advancements and research potential, said Margaret Dimond, president of UM Health Regional Network, which includes UM Health-Sparrow and UM Health-West. This collaboration will provide access to a more comprehensive and coordinated experience for patients in Michigan who require specialized care for any neurologic condition. Its a unique and progressive partnership that will set an example for multi-university collaboration on key diagnostic and treatment breakthroughs.

According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, Michigans supply of neurology specialists will fulfill just 88% of the demand by 2031, which is below national projections for the same period. The Neuro Care Network will work to identify future community needs and collaboratively recruit specialists so that mid-Michigan residents have convenient access to inpatient and outpatient neurology services.

As our population ages and the rates of neurological diseases such as Parkinsons, stroke and dementia increase, the demand for neurology specialists will continue to outpace the supply, said John Goudreau, neurologist and interim chair of the MSU Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology. Working collaboratively strengthens our position to recruit top neurological talent and care for our patients.

MSU Health Care and UM Health-Sparrow will be partnering to provide outstanding new services, thus expanding access for our mid-Michigan patients to advanced specialty care without needing to leave the region, added Aditya Pandey, chair of the UM Health Department of Neurosurgery.

New service lines are also anticipated as a result of this collaboration and will be announced as they are ready for patients. To learn more, visit the MSU Health Care website.

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MSU Health Care, UM Health unite to provide expanded neurology services for mid-Michigan residents - MSUToday

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, says Dvora Kestel, Director or WHOs Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use. 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.

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.

Barriers to accessing medicines for neurological disorders

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, including:

These challenges are further compounded by existing health inequities, disproportionately affecting populations in low- and middle-income countries, individuals living in poverty, rural areas, and other vulnerable groups, creating a fundamental obstacle to achieving universal health coverage.

WHO report provides a framework for action

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

Supporting countries to improve access to medicines for neurological disorders

This report is an important tool in the implementation of the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) 20222031, which is supporting countries to scale up access to the essential medicines and technologies needed to manage neurological disorders by 2031.

Some countries are already taking significant steps to address these challenges. In Ghana, neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson disease have been prioritized. The recent update of the national essential medicines list and standard treatment guidelines included several medicines and clinical guidance for treatment of neurological disorders.

In the United Republic of Tanzania, a national coordination committee for epilepsy and other neurological disorders is being established to provide technical support to policymakers. The countrys Medical Stores Department is conducting special procurements of medicines for neurological disorders in order to address the lack of access. Significantly, the United Republic of Tanzanias National Health Insurance Fund package 2024, now includes several medicines for neurological disorders, including epilepsy and Parkinson disease. These actions represent a major step towards ensuring more people living with these disorders can access the treatment they need.

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WHO calls for better access to medicines to reduce vast treatment gap for neurological disorders - World Health Organization (WHO)