Investigating the gap in the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries

Epilepsy affects more than 50 million people worldwide, with many more affected by its consequences. Nearly 80% of the people with epilepsy live in developing regions and the majority of them do not receive appropriate treatment. This treatment gap is partly attributable to the lack of availability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The WHO has developed a Model List of Essential Medicines (WMLEM) designed to prioritize health care needs, improve the drug supply and lower the costs in health care to assist countries in procurement and supply of medicines prioritization.