WHO reports that 11 million people die each year due to neurological disorders

WHO has published its report on the global situation regarding neurological disorders.

The report noted that one in three people worldwide suffers from neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, migraine and autism, and that people in low- and middle-income countries experiencing these disorders face greater difficulties.

The report called for urgent action against neurological disorders, which cause 11 million deaths each year, and warned that countries should develop national policies in this area.

The report, which noted that neurological disorders now affect more than 40 percent of the world's population (more than 3 billion people), said, "Despite the increasing burden of these diseases, low-income countries have 80 times fewer neurologists than high-income countries. Many low- and middle-income countries lack national plans, budgets, and workforces. WHO calls for urgent, evidence-based, and coordinated global action to prioritize brain health and expand neurological care."

Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Deputy Director-General of the WHO Department of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control, whose views were included in the report, stated that millions of people living with neurological disorders around the world must do everything to improve the health services they need.

Pointing out that most neurological disorders are preventable or effectively treatable, Farrar reported that these health services are particularly inaccessible in rural and underserved areas where people face social exclusion and financial hardship.

“We must put patients and their families first and work together to prioritize brain health and ensure appropriate investments are made,” Farrar said.