“Epilepsy 90–80–70”: The Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (2022–2031)

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the oldest known nervous system disorders and imposes enormous physical, psychological, social and economic burden on individuals, families and countries due to misunderstanding and stigmatization. These problems are most relevant for developing countries, where up to 85 % of epilepsy patients live. Despite the fact that it is a treatable and preventable disorder, there is a lack of adequate public awareness and understanding of the problems of epilepsy. This article is devoted to the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) 2022–2031, adopted on 27 May 2022 at the 150th session of WHO’s Executive Board. It provides data on the public and medical importance of epilepsy, the history of the joint initiatives of WHO, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) aimed at reducing the burden of epilepsy on society and improving public knowledge about neurological disorders. The key provisions of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022–2031 are announced. The Epilepsy 90–80–70 cascade target, launched by ILAE and IBE, is presented to inspire decades of action and significantly improve care and treatment for all people living with epilepsy worldwide. The final section is devoted to the evolution of epileptology at Almazov National Medical Research Centre, its present and its prospects.