Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder. One per cent of the world population has epilepsy and in Malta there are over 3,000 persons who have this condition. It is a hidden disability and many people may not know that another person has epilepsy. They will only know if that person tells them, or that person has a seizure in front of them. This may have a negative effect on the person’s social life.

The treatment and management of this condition goes a long way to enhance the life of persons affected by it. For this reason it is expected that every possible effort will be taken in order to offer these people the best treatments and the latest interventions possible for an optimum diagnosis and course of action. The recent conference organised by the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association, attended by over 370 persons, including several family doctors, pharmacists, several health care professionals and all three neurologists, discussed how best to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to the management of persons with epilepsy, across primary and tertiary health care.

All persons with epilepsy in Malta are given the best with respect to pharmacological treatment since they are all entitled to free medication under Schedule V; however a critical aspect towards improving the management of this patient is the accurate diagnosis of the epilepsy, since there may be over 40 different types. This requires the concurrent monitoring using video and electroencephalographic (EEC) techniques (video telemetry) for the accurate monitoring of patients and their seizures over several hours. As an association we are aware that state of the art video telemetry equipment has been purchased for use in Mater Dei hospital. This equipment is vital both for persons with epilepsy as well as person with other conditions.

To date we have heard absolutely nothing regarding the commencement of a video telemetry service. The relevant medical staff as well as the persons with epilepsy are eagerly awaiting this diagnostic procedure and their relatives have a right to this treatment and it would be a pity to leave this expensive equipment out of action, wasting precious taxpayers’ money.

Mario Dimech

President

Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association