Our vision is to

achieve a world in which no person's

life is limited by epilepsy.

Strategic Plan / International League Against Epilepsy Executive Committee Meeting

The Vision
Our vision is to achieve a world in which no person's life is limited by epilepsy.

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1

Create an internationally understood and accepted knowledge base of epilepsy founded on an understanding of fundamental mechanisms.

Objective 1:

Increase funding to promote research to bridge the gap between basic understanding and clinical application.

Proposed Action Steps: Primary responsibility of Neurobiology Commission, engaging Global Campaign (WHO), chapters, and regional commissions in advocacy programmes; also developing an inventory of funded epilepsy research.

Objective 2:

Develop consensus / guidelines for appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic standards.

Proposed Action Steps: Develop evidence-based guidelines; the responsibility of the Commission on Diagnostic Strategies and the Commission on Therapeutic Strategies with input from the Neurosurgical, Pediatric and Psychobiology Commissions; to be supported by the Information Officer and Resource Centre in identifying existing guidelines and evaluating what is needed.

Objective 3:

Disseminate information globally using all available means.

Proposed Action Steps: Create an ILAE/IBE task force to fully utilise the Resource Centre and the Website, with the Information Officer giving administrative oversight. Related tasks include the completion of the new classification system by the Classification Task Force. Responsibilities of the ILAE/IBE task force include the evaluation of material for inclusion in the Website, in cooperation with the Information Officer and Resource Centre.

Objective 4:

Create an interactive global network of epileptologists to provide input and access to state-of-the-art knowledge. Promote collaboration.

Proposed Action Steps: Create a globally interactive network that encourages broad-based participation in contributing to and gaining information on the ILAE/IBE Website. Requires a task force to begin planning and collaborative roles of commissions, regions and chapters.

Goal 2

Achieve universal primary and secondary prevention of epilepsy within accepted ethical guidelines.

Objective 1:

Identification of preventable causes and risk factors of epilepsy on a regional basis.

Proposed Action Step: This objective is already the responsibility of the Commission on the Burden of Epilepsy. It is requested that this commission report progress to date and develop plans for the future, and include input from the chairs of relevant commissions such as the Genetic, Developing Countries, and Regional commissions, and from the Global Campaign.

Objective 2:

To develop regional plans for intervention.

Proposed Action Step: This is already the responsibility of the Global Campaign. Is there more that should specifically be undertaken? It was strongly recommended that the Regional Commissions be involved.

Goal 3

Achieve world-wide access to appropriate medical care (accurate diagnoses and effective medical treatment).

Objective 1:

Develop and begin a plan to provide (access to) all ILAE Chapters across all regions of the globe.

Proposed Action Steps: An assignment of Regional Commissions, the Developing Countries Commission, and the Secretary-General.

It is recommended that the Secretary-General develop a plan for new chapters over the next three years, and the commissions develop a plan for countries that do not have chapters and those not included in the Secretary-General's three-year plan.

Objective 2:

To support the advocacy efforts of ILAE Chapters and others with government and health agencies to ensure appropriate access to medical care for persons with epilepsy. (Reduce the treatment gap.)

Proposed Action Steps: The assigned responsibility of the Global Campaign, in collaboration and cooperation with the Developing Countries, Burden of Epilepsy, and Regional Commissions. Key are the advocacy programmes of ILAE Chapters.

Objective 3:

Stimulate the development of epileptologists and epilepsy centres. (Identify role models.)

Proposed Action Steps: Requires a task force to stimulate the development of epileptologists and epilepsy centres. Possible assignment of the Task Force for Regional and Interregional Organisations.

Goal 4

Reduce the limitations encountered by persons with epilepsy and their families.

Objectives / Action Step: Proposal to be jointly developed by ILAE and IBE Secretaries-General.

Goal 5

Create and maintain the administrative and financial infrastructure to realize our objectives.

Objectives / Action Step: Proposal to be developed by the ILAE Management Committee, including staffing and financial plans.

Notes:
1. The preceding Vision, Goals, and Objectives were developed by some 29 participants (see list below) in the Strategic Planning Meeting, contributing from five working groups acting in consensus. The language as presented was adopted by the entire group. The next and final segment of the process is the full definition and implementation of "Action Steps."

2. The "Action Steps" that enable the Objectives have been presented herein as a summary of the recommendations of the groups. To be completed and approved by the Executive Committee, each must include:

1. Who is responsible for implementation?
2. What are the measurable intended outcomes?
3. What staff and financial resources will be required?
4. A time-line of three years or less for achievement.

3. List of Participants

• Anderson , V. Elving - United States
• Avanzini, Giuliano - Italy
• Brodie, Martin - Scotland
• Cavalheiro, Esper - Brazil
• DeBoer, Hanneke - Netherlands
• Dravet, Charlotte - France
• Engel, Pete - United States
• Falk-Pedersen, Johan - Norway
• Fejerman, Natalio - Argentina
• Gallo Diop, Amadou - Senegal  
• Hills, Michael - New Zealand
• Holmes, Richard - Ireland  
• Kale, Rajendra - India  
• Maheswari, MC - India
• Mayanagi, Yoshiaki - Japan
• Meinradi, Harry - Netherlands
• Morrell, Martha - United States
• Mrabet, Amel - Tunisia
• Pedley, Timothy - United States
• Prilipko, Leonid - WHO
• Reynolds, Ted - United Kingdom
• Sander, J.W.A.S. - United Kingdom
• Schmitz, Eva Bettina- Germany
• Seino, Masakazu - Japan  
• Shorvon, Simon - United Kingdom
• Theodore, William - United States
• Tomson, Torbjorn - Sweden  
• Wieser, Heinz-Gregor- Switzerland
• Wolf, Peter - Germany