Objective: Project Atlas 2015 (World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse) is designed to collect, compile and disseminate data on global neurology resources. Background: The Atlas project has become a valuable tool on global resources in neurology and important for developing and planning services. This is the first reassessment of global neurology resources worldwide since 2004. The neurology Atlas 2015 is expected to provide a powerful advocacy tool to stimulate vital action and help promote constructive decision-making by governments, policymakers, national and international organizations, health professionals, and individuals globally on neurological disorders. Methods: A questionnaire was created based on consultations with WHO Member States, and in collaboration with WHO regional offices. Ministries of Health appointed a contact person to complete the Atlas questionnaire. Information was collected between 2013-2015 on neurological health policies, legislation, finances, the neurological workforce, access to essential medicines for neurological disorders, treatment accessibility through primary healthcare, neurological service quality, and information gathering systems for neurological disorders. Results: Data from 128 countries spanning all WHO regions and continents, representing 90[percnt] of the world population, was collected. Few stand-alone neurological health policies exist across all WHO regions, with a clear deficit in low-income regions. Few countries in the WHO Africa and Southeast Asia Region had legislation on epilepsy and dementia. No country in Africa or Eastern Mediterranean Region reported a separate budget line for neurological disorders. The neurological workforce is particular deficient in rural areas. Neurology guidelines were particularly deficient in low and low-middle income countries. Conclusions: Neurological disorders are an emerging challenge to health care systems globally, requiring further government and social engagement, and improvements in health care infrastructure. The Neurology Atlas 2015 emphasizes the need for significant improvements in resources for those with neurological disorders, particularly in low-income countries.
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Thakur et al. (2016) studied this question.