Objective:

To describe the perspectives of general neurology and epilepsy specialists from LAC on these issues.

Background:

The current state of access to antiseizure medications in Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC) are poorly characterized. Existing research is limited, with most data over a decade old. This gap in recent, comprehensive data hinders effective strategies to improve healthcare access across the region. Their insights are essential for evaluating regional progress and identifying treatment gaps faced by epilepsy patients, particularly regarding adequate treatment access.

Design/Methods:

In 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey consisting of 15 questions sent to neurologists and epilepsy specialists in LAC, either by mail or in person, regarding healthcare access for people with epilepsy in the region. Associations between categorical variables were evaluated using the Fisher Exact test.

Results:

Information was obtained from 105 clinicians, including 62.9% epilepsy specialists and 37.1% neurologists from South America (72.38%) and Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (26.67%). Antiseizure medications are generally available throughout LAC; however, some less commonly available options include brivaracetam (42.9%), ethosuximide (23.8%), and perampanel (19%) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela. The most frequently cited challenges in accessing antiseizure medications were high costs (78.1%) and low availability of brand-name drugs (53.3%).

Conclusions:

Overall, LAC has seen improvements in the availability of diagnostic services and healthcare workers specializing in epilepsy care. However, this availability remains unevenly distributed between countries and within urban and rural areas. While antiseizure medications are generally accessible, certain drugs remain inconsistently available across the region. Barriers to adequate treatment include high costs, inadequate healthcare coverage, and medication shortages due to supply chain issues and regulatory hurdles. Additionally, patients face disparities in access to information about treatments and concerns regarding the quality of generics. To ensure adequate access to epilepsy treatment in LAC, international collaboration must be prioritized.