Chapter Name: Dutch League Against Epilepsy
Report By: Dr. R.P.W. Rouhl (Secretary General)

Publications:

Epilepsie, periodiek voor professionals (4 times yearly, in Dutch, sent to all members of the Dutch League)

Summary of Activities:

• Continuation and further extension of the epilepsy network, a collaboration in epilepsy care and education between epilepsy specialist centers and general hospitals.
• Leading role in the modular development of epilepsy guidelines, which is also a guiding project for all other medical guidelines in the Netherlands. The epilepsy guidelines are web-based and updated annually. In this context, guideline development is also offered as a traineeship for medical specialists (e.g. neurologists) and their residents.
• Communication to the entire neurological community in the Netherlands on ongoing epilepsy research projects
• Seizure detection is one of the subjects included in the ‘Kennisagenda’ of the Dutch Neurological Society. The Dutch League commits itself to include more epilepsy related topics on this research agenda, which can facilitate funding.
• Reaching out to epilepsy care providers to help in treatment choices when pharmacies experience medication delivery problems (advice in substitution).
• Giving advice in reimbursement procedures (to the ‘Zorginstituut Nederland’ and the ‘Wetenschappelijke Adviesraad Commissie Geneesmiddelen’), in 2020 for cannabidiol
• Contribution to advisory report NICE guideline Dravet and Lennox.
• Providing reliable information for epilepsy patients on COVID-19 in relation to epilepsy.
• Organization of two conferences by the scientific section of the Dutch League (January 2019, January 2020)

Challenges:

Ensuring the financial sustainability of the epilepsy network with its associated knowledge dissemination.

Future Plans:

• Co-organize one of the ILAE Congresses (ECE).
• Continuing education and dissemination of knowledge for all epilepsy professionals by our publications and conferences (yearly SWO meeting and every second year in the National Epilepsy Symposium).

Officer Election Date: yearly vacancies (not bound to terms)