Epilepsy rates in Iran are 2 to 3 times higher than the global average

Dr. Alireza Zali on the 16th Iranian Epilepsy Congress at the national Library of Iran Conference Hall said: “it was already predicted that between 7 to 8 individuals in every 1000 people would suffer from epilepsy in Iran, but a recent study suggested that statistics have changed and is higher than the global average.”

He named the traffic accidents and road accidents as the main causes of the increase in the number of disease and said: “Unfortunately some people who experience traffic accidents will have chronic epilepsy for many years.”

He also pointed out that the general culture of the society must be oriented in a way that epilepsy becomes known a chronic but curable disease and addressed the de stigmatization of the disease name-calling as one of the missions of the Iranian Epilepsy Association.

He described epilepsy as a chronic but curable disease and said: “with proper treatment these patients can have social activities like others and this disease have no incompatibilities with personal life, family making, and having child.”

He also added: “we have the lowest insurance coverage for patients suffering from epilepsy compared to global models. In many countries, these patients receive a full treatment and supportive package by insurance organizations.”