Lack of adequate number of neurologists in the country, need for improving services for neurological problems, were stressed at the inauguration of 27th Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Neurology, titled IANCON-2019, on Tuesday here.
The four-day long convention is being organised by the Indian Academy of Neurology in association with Brain and Spine Society. Lectures on current topics such as Neurology, Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions on advances in subjects such as -- stroke prevention, treatment, would be held at the conference.
Member of NITI Aayog, Dr. Vinod Paul, pointed out that our country has only 2,500 neurologists -- which amounts to one neurologist per 5 lakh population. According to the World Health Organisation recommendations, the ratio should be one neurologist per 1 lakh population. Dr Paul stressed that there is a need to increase number of the specialists in the country to achieve the ratio.
“Apart from augmenting the seats in neurology, more and more hospitals in the rural areas need to be equipped with CT and MRI scans for early diagnosis of neurological disorders. There is also a need to provide rehabilitation services in the rural areas. The lack of adequate rehabilitation services in rural areas can be partly overcome by training the family members in the rehabilitation process, so that they can take care of the physically-challenged persons,” said Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, who inaugurated the annual conference.
Addressing scores of neurologists from across the country, he said that though estimated prevalence of serious neurological disorders like brain stroke, dementia, is 5 to 8 per 1000 people in developed countries, the prevalence in India is nearly double, which is at 14 to 17 per 1000 people.
Mr. Naidu said that the burden of neurological diseases needs to be tackled by adopting a multi-pronged approach.
