Advocacy in the international arena

For neurology, the crucial issue is the recognition of the magnitude and seriousness of nervous system disorders by the public, a subject that is well covered elsewhere in this book. Perhaps as important is the awareness of health authorities on the needs of the public to provision of neurological care. Without full governmental and healthcare authorities’ support, neurological disorders shall remain undersupported and underfunded. This chapter explores the issue of how to achieve this goal internationally. This should be accomplished in the face of other major competing interests not only in medicine, but also in the whole social care system.