International Epilepsy Day 2026 emphasizes a powerful shift—from awareness to action—through the global Epilepsy Pledge. While epilepsy remains one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, significant gaps persist in diagnosis, access to care, and societal understanding. Despite advances in medical therapy, nearly one in three people with epilepsy continues to experience seizures despite medication.
Delayed diagnosis, persistent stigma, and limited access to specialised epilepsy services continue to adversely affect outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with epilepsy. Addressing these challenges requires more than awareness—it demands commitment and concrete action.
The Epilepsy Pledge calls upon individuals, caregivers, educators, employers, and healthcare professionals to take meaningful steps:
learning seizure first aid, using stigma-free language, ensuring timely referrals, and supporting people with epilepsy with empathy, dignity, and understanding.
At the forefront of this action-oriented approach, Aster MIMS Advanced Centre for Epilepsy (AMACE) offers renewed hope for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy. Through early evaluation, expert multidisciplinary care, and access to advanced treatments—including epilepsy surgery—many patients can achieve seizure freedom or significant improvement when care is accessed without delay.
As AMACE marks International Epilepsy Day 2026, the message is clear and resolute:
awareness alone is not enough. When knowledge leads to action, lives can change—and for some, timely surgical intervention can mark the beginning of a completely new chapter.
