Epilepsy drugs should be given ‘lifesaving medicines’ status: Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui

KARACHI, Sep 11 (SABAH): Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan President Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui on Monday asked the government to give epilepsy drugs the status of life saving medicines.

Talking on this subject in Karachi after returning from Multan where she spoke to a seminar on the issues of diagnosis in Pakistan and new options for treatment organized by National Medical College and Helix Pharma, Dr. Sohaib, head of the department of Neurology Nishter Medical College Multan presided over the seminar attended by noted psychiatrists and neurologists of the country.

President Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said that correct diagnosis of diseases is a major issue in Pakistan. She said that proper treatment is only possible after accurate diagnosis. She said the diagnosis and medical tests process and medication in Pakistan is so costly that many patients simply opt for not to go for treatment.

She said it is not safe for an epilepsy patient to go outside his home. These patients often suffer from fits of epilepsy and life becomes meaningless for them if their disease is left untreated. She said that to ensure that an epilepsy patient lives a normal life in society his or her proper treatment is a must.

President Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui appealed to the health ministry to give epilepsy drugs the status of life saving drugs.