Overview

The EFNA webinar “Towards a European Neurological Health Strategy” brought together representatives from patient organisations, European institutions, clinical societies, and advocacy groups to explore how a coordinated European approach to neurological health could be developed and implemented.

The discussion highlighted a unique political opportunity to elevate neurological health on the European policy agenda and examined lessons learned from existing initiatives, including the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP), Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the European Cardiovascular Health Plan.

A New Political Opportunity

The webinar opened with a video message from MEP Catarina Martins, rapporteur for the European Parliament’s own-initiative report on a European Neurological Health Strategy. Martins emphasised three priorities:

• Increased investment in research and clinical innovation.
• Universal and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care.
• Development of modern care models that support patients, families, and informal carers.

Importantly, she stressed that patient organisations must be involved throughout the development process, committing to working closely with EFNA and the wider neurological community.

Building a Strategy that Delivers

Representing the European Brain Council, Hugo Hermantin argued that Europe has reached a turning point after decades of advocacy by the neurology community. He highlighted several priorities for a future strategy:

• A life-course approach to neurological health.
• Better coordination between existing European initiatives.
• Stronger focus on prevention and brain health promotion.
• Meaningful involvement of patients and carers.
• Clear implementation mechanisms, timelines, objectives, and reporting structures.

Hermantin stressed that the strategy must become more than “a plan on paper” and should produce tangible benefits for the millions of Europeans living with neurological conditions.

Lessons from the Cardiovascular Health Plan

Arlene Wilkie, CEO of the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), shared insights from the development of the European Cardiovascular Health Plan.

Key lessons included:

• Engage early and consistently in the policy process.
• Build broad coalitions between patient groups, clinical societies, and policymakers.
• Develop clear consensus positions before engaging with decision-makers.
• Mobilise national organisations and encourage engagement with Members of the European Parliament.

Wilkie noted that one area that could have been strengthened was direct engagement with people with lived experience. She also cautioned that implementation efforts had become heavily focused on cardiac health, underlining the importance of maintaining visibility for all conditions included within a broader strategy.

A key warning for the neurology community was not to overlook long-term care and support needs, which often receive less political attention than prevention and acute treatment.

Learning from the WHO Neurological Action Plan

Dr Orla Galvin explored how Europe could adapt the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP).
Drawing on EFNA research and member consultations, she identified several priority areas:

• Earlier diagnosis and intervention.
• Targeted research into both common and rare conditions.
• Person-centred care.
• Lifelong brain health and prevention.
• Integrated and multidisciplinary care pathways.
• Patient partnership and real-world evidence.
• Digital health infrastructure and innovation.
• Equity of access across Europe.

Dr Galvin emphasised that Europe does not need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, policymakers should build on the IGAP framework while creating European-specific targets, indicators, governance structures, and accountability mechanisms.

Ensuring Implementation and Accountability

Speaking on behalf of the International Bureau for Epilepsy, Donna Walsh reflected on the implementation of IGAP.
She noted that despite the ambitious global framework, progress towards many targets remains slow. Her key recommendations included:

• Creating realistic and achievable targets.
• Establishing baseline data before setting objectives.
• Linking strategy development to dedicated financial resources.
• Embedding accountability and monitoring from the outset.
• Identifying and scaling best practice across Member States.

Walsh highlighted the risk of developing ambitious plans without the resources needed to implement them and stressed the importance of aligning any European strategy with existing global commitments.

Insights from Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan

Providing a cancer policy perspective, Antonella Cardone, CEO of Cancer Patients Europe, outlined the factors that have supported the success of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

She highlighted:

• A structured and coherent roadmap.
• A lengthy and meaningful stakeholder consultation process.
• Dedicated funding mechanisms.
• Strong monitoring and accountability structures.
• Development of tools such as the European Cancer Inequalities Registry.

Cardone emphasised that data and evidence have been essential in identifying inequalities, informing policy, and strengthening accountability. She also stressed the need to plan for long-term sustainability, particularly once dedicated funding streams end.

Clinical Perspectives: Prevention, Access and Workforce

Representing the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), Professor Kailash Bhatia focused on prevention, presenting the acronym SEADS:

• Sleep
• Exercise
• Avoiding head injury
• Diet
• Social interaction

He argued that promoting healthy brain habits throughout life could reduce the burden of neurological disease and contribute to healthier ageing.
Professor Bhatia also highlighted significant inequities across Europe regarding access to diagnostics, treatments, genetics services, rehabilitation, and specialist care. He emphasized the urgent need for better data on these disparities and greater investment in the neurological workforce, including neurologists, nurses, researchers, and allied health professionals.
Notably, he cited emerging data suggesting that approximately 461 million people across Europe are living with neurological conditions, illustrating the enormous societal and economic burden of neurological disease.

A Pediatric Perspective

Professor Anna Jansen, President of the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS), highlighted the importance of considering neurological health from the earliest stages of life.

She outlined opportunities for prevention through:

• Vaccination programmes.
• Improved perinatal care.
• Good nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.
• Road safety measures and injury prevention.
• Newborn screening and early diagnosis.
• Early recognition of psychiatric comorbidities.

Professor Jansen also emphasised the importance of smooth transition pathways between paediatric and adult care services, coordinated lifelong care, support for families and caregivers, and investment in workforce development.

Key Conclusions

Several clear messages emerged throughout the webinar:

1. The time is right for a European Neurological Health Strategy, following years of advocacy and increased political recognition of neurological health.
2. Patients and caregivers must be central to the process, from development through implementation and evaluation.
3. A strategy must be accompanied by funding, accountability, and measurable targets if it is to deliver meaningful change.
4. Prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care must be addressed as part of a continuous life-course approach.
5. Existing frameworks such as IGAP, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the Cardiovascular Health Plan provide valuable lessons that can help accelerate progress.
6. Addressing inequalities in neurological care across Europe should be a central objective.
7. Investment in the neurological workforce and integrated care pathways is essential to meet future demand.

Conclusion

The webinar demonstrated strong consensus across patient organisations, clinicians, and health advocates that Europe has a unique opportunity to transform neurological health policy. While participants agreed that the publication of a strategy would be a significant milestone, they repeatedly stressed that success should ultimately be measured by improvements in outcomes, quality of life, and equity for people living with neurological conditions and their families throughout Europe.