9th October 2024

Dear WFN Delegates and Member Societies,

Re.: World Federation of Neurology Needs Registry Survey 2021

It is a pleasure to announce that the WFN’s Needs Registry Survey 2021, published in our official journal, the Journal of Neurological Sciences (Research Article Volume 465 – 123124 – October 15, 2024), will now be fully open access to read and download for the next year. We are indebted to our publisher Elsevier for allowing us this promotional access.

We hope the Needs Registry Survey will be useful for your work, as millions of people worldwide are affected by neurological disorders. The disease burden of neurological disorders, particularly in low to middle-income countries, is expected to grow exponentially in the next decade and the recent Global Burden of Disease Study (please see infographics: https://www.thelancet.com/infographics-do/conditions-affecting-the-nervous-system-2024) has alerted us all to the full extent of neurological diseases. There are major barriers globally such as lack of therapeutics, facilities and structures, and a limited number of neurologists and other healthcare professionals, which continue to negatively affect the quality of neurological care.

In partnership with its member societies, the WFN compiled an inventory of the most important deficiencies causing inequalities in the prevention and care of neurological disorders. The WFN’s Needs Registry Survey offers an essential real-world view, identifying disparities in the delivery and quality of neurological care to inform decisions prioritising and targeting future remedying efforts. Past president William M. Carroll spearheaded this project.

I want to remind you that the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP), is an important way forward for neurology worldwide, and is supported by the WFN. WFN IGAP Toolkit Information Leaflet. Please note that you can also download the IGAP toolkit from the WFN website.

We hope that the results of the Needs Registry Survey will be helpful in advancing work for neurology worldwide.

Best Regards,

Prof. Wolfgang Grisold
WFN President

President
Prof. Wolfgang Grisold

First Vice President
Dr Guy Rouleau

Secretary General
Prof. Steven L. Lewis

Prof. Morris Freedman

Elected Trustees
Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram
Prof. Mohammad Wasay
Prof. Tissa Wijeratne