Current Status of Neurology and Neuroscience Research in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Neurology and neurosciences is most under-recognized field in most of the developing world. There is no statistical data available from Pakistan reporting the exact prevalence of neurological  diseases. Most of the studies reported so far are either regional or hospital based.
Objectives: The aim of this review was to bring the current situation of neurology and neuroscience into the limelight and highlight the areas where Pakistan is lagging.
Methodology: PUBMED and Google scholar were explored for the period 2000-2017 to collect recent information regarding the current situation of neurology and neuroscience in Pakistan.
Results: It was observed that Neurology and neuroscience are not well recognized and well established fields in Pakistan, despite of the fact, that Pakistan carries a huge disease burden of neurological genetic  disorders due to consanguineous marriages. Most of the medical and other Universities don't have separate departments to cater these areas, consequently, resulting in sufferings of patients and lack of required knowledge among students, researchers and practitioners.
Conclusions: There is a great need to do more research, improve diagnostic facilities, build neurology departments in medical universities and compulsory neurology education to all medical students. Research publications from Pakistan in area of neurology and neurosciences are very less compared to
neighboring and developed countries. Health care and diagnostic facilities for neurological disorders are inadequate in Pakistan and there are very limited training facilities. Modifiable risk factors such as pollution, smoking, lack of healthcare facilities, low literacy rate, socioeconomic status, lack of awareness, hygiene issues, high ratio of cousin marriages and lack of genetic counseling facilities are contributing factors for neurological diseases in Pakistan. These issues should be properly addressed to prevent these diseases to some extent.