Challenges in epilepsy management in the Eastern Mediterranean (Part I): Disparities in pharmacological treatment and ketogenic diet access
This study reveals critical gaps in epilepsy care in lower-income Middle Eastern countries, particularly in access to emergency and second-line treatments. The findings demonstrate that barriers extend beyond cost to include regulatory and health system structures, providing crucial evidence to inform health policy and advocacy efforts aimed at reducing the global epilepsy treatment gap.
Authors
- Rihab Ben Dhia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9244-6568)
- Christelle Nderbe Melom
- Shorouk Mohsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6983-8675)
- Mohamed AlKhaja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4480-525X)
- Ruba Al‐Ramadhani
- Leen Alkalbani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3951-6093)
- Wafaa Al Shehhi
- Daniah M Kurdi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1062-2765)
- Sally Shaaban (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5881-9607)
- Ahmed Mohammed Abdulrahman
- Abas Nariman Sidiq Tilako
- H. Albastaki
- Ali Ibrahim
- Nada Benkirane
- Bader Almasaad
Institutions
- University of N'Djamena (TD)
- Mansoura University (EG)
- University of Monastir (TN)
- Rashid Hospital (AE)
- Damascus Hospital (SY)
- King Saud University (SA)
- Farwaniya Hospital (KW)
- University of Human Development (IQ)
- Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MA)
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (US)
- Royal Hospital (OM)
- King Hamad University Hospital (BH)
- Iraq Virtual Science Library (IQ)
- International League Against Epilepsy (US)
- University of Sulaimani (IQ)
- University of Aden (YE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Epileptic Disorders
- Published
- 2026-03-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/epd2.70225
- Primary Topic
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00