Early diagnosis and advanced surgical treatments can help epilepsy patients lead seizure-free lives

Hyderabad: Epilepsy remains a major yet often under-recognised public health challenge across India, where an estimated 10 million people live with the condition alongside a substantial treatment gap. Among them, more than 1 million individuals suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy, a condition where conventional medications alone fail to provide adequate seizure control.

For appropriately selected patients, epilepsy surgery offers the realistic possibility of long-term seizure freedom and a return to an independent life. However, epilepsy surgery remains significantly underutilised in India due to limited public awareness, shortages of specialized expertise, complex clinical evaluation pathways, and financial constraints.

Over the past two years, the comprehensive epilepsy programme at Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills has successfully completed 25 epilepsy surgeries. This achievement represents far more than 25 surgical operations, as each patient underwent a structured, multidisciplinary evaluation involving epileptology, prolonged video-EEG monitoring, epilepsy-protocol neuroimaging, neuropsychology, advanced functional imaging, invasive monitoring, neurosurgery, anaesthesia, dedicated nursing, and post-operative rehabilitation.

The epileptologist plays a pivotal role throughout this clinical pathway by identifying drug-resistant cases, determining surgical eligibility, integrating complex diagnostic findings, and coordinating the multidisciplinary medical team to formulate the safest treatment strategy. The vision moving forward focuses on expanding the programme beyond surgical procedures to raise public awareness, improve early patient referrals, educate healthcare professionals, and make comprehensive epilepsy care accessible to a broader population.

Most importantly, addressing financial barriers remains a primary objective. Plans are underway to establish a charitable Corporate Social Responsibility supported Epilepsy Surgery Access Fund, ensuring that medically suitable candidates are not denied life-changing surgery simply because their families cannot afford the costs.

The ultimate goal is not merely performing more operations, but ensuring that individuals with uncontrolled epilepsy are identified, evaluated, and offered an opportunity for a life free from disabling seizures regardless of financial status.

Despite major clinical advancements, epilepsy surgery continues to face severe underutilisation nationwide. Lack of public awareness, delayed medical referrals, limited access to specialised centres, and economic hurdles routinely prevent eligible patients from receiving timely intervention.

Apollo Hospitals remains committed to bridging this gap through coordinated care across epileptology, neurophysiology, neuroradiology, neuropsychology, neurosurgery, and rehabilitation services, establishing individualized care plans for every patient seeking treatment.

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The Hans India