Fowzia urges subsidy to facilitate epilepsy patients

KARACHI: Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan President and noted neuro-physician of the country Dr Fowzia Siddiqui has demanded of the government to give subsidy to VNS, DBS devices to facilitate epilepsy patients.

As per details, the first Pak-Turkey Epilepsy Summit was held in Istanbul with collaboration of Istanbul University-Cerrahpacha and Epilepsy Foundation of Pakistan. Dr Fowzia Siddiqui represented Pakistan in this moot and briefed the audience about recent advancements in methods of management, surgical procedures and medication to treat epilepsy.

She said the basic objective of the Epilepsy Foundation of Pakistan was the raise awareness about this disease and now its scope has been widened from national to international level. She said that it may be noted that last month the Epilepsy Foundation of Pakistan had represented the country in an epilepsy summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said that if VNS and DBS devices are imported their cost would reach from Rs3.5 million to Rs5 million due to taxes and duties. She said if the government of Pakistan gives a subsidy on purchase of these equations a large number of the epilepsy patients could get a new lease of life who is not responding to medication. Dr Fowzia said that these devices are also costly in Turkey but the Turkish government gives subsidy to facilitate their epilepsy patients so that their lives could be eased enabling them to live a quality life.

The summit was attended by the top professors of the universities of Pakistan and Turkey and their top doctors. Prof Ozkara Cigdem spoke on treatment of epilepsy patients with surgery. Dr Sail Oztrurk talked on neuromodolition (RNS, VNS, DBS) in epilepsy. Dr Mehmet Tonge spoke on surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery. Dr Sammar Naim moderated the opening and ending sessions of the summit. In the end, Dr Fowzia Siddiqui and Dr Sammar Naim also distributed shields.