Distinguished delegates,
The adoption of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders by the World Health Organisation in 2022 marked a turning point in global health, recognising neurological health as a core element of the noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda.

The 2018 Political Declaration on NCDs acknowledged that “neurological disorders contribute to the global burden of NCDs” (emro.who.int), an important step in recognising neurological disorders as part of the 5x5 framework.
Excluding neurological disorders from the upcoming 2025 Political Declaration would reverse this progress.

Neurological disorders are a leading cause of disability and death globally, affecting over three billion people, including children and older persons, with conditions like epilepsy, dementia, and multiple sclerosis (NCD Alliance). Many disproportionately affect women, both in prevalence and impact. Yet, they remain underrepresented in global NCD responses.

The 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs presents a critical opportunity to address this gap (OneNeurology). Progress on the Universal Health Coverage depends on addressing the full spectrum of conditions. We urge Member States and the WHO to:
1. Explicitly include neurological conditions in the 2025 Political Declaration with concrete commitments to reduce their impact, in line with the 2018 Political Declaration;
2. Align IGAP implementation with broader NCD efforts;
3. Ensure equitable access to diagnostics and treatments for all NCDs, including neurological conditions;
4. Partner with the neurology community to co-create integrated, person-centred care pathways.

We urge Member States to lead with inclusion and ambition.
Thank you.

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