Commentary

With recent advances in resuscitation methods and intensive care, there are more patients surviving various neurological insults. The life expectancy of these patients is also on the rise with better medical care. However, they are often left with permanent neurological deficits including physical, mental and behavioral problems, which make them completely or partially dependent on others for leading their daily life. They are also prone to various complications.

Hence, there is an emerging need to establish rehabilitation services and long-term care services for these groups of patients to improve their quality of lives and reintegrate them into the community. However, such facilities are currently lacking in most parts of the country except in a few major institutions. As a first step, it is important to gauge the magnitude of the problem in various parts of the country and also to assess the barriers that prevent community reintegration.

The study “Neurological disorders and barriers for neurological rehabilitation in rural areas in Uttar Pradesh”[1] is an initial outlook towards this goal. Architectural barriers and lack of awareness of possible treatments pose major challenges to rehabilitation. Major steps need to be taken to alleviate these issues. Community-based rehabilitation programs will certainly be helpful to bring about significant changes in this respect. Studies of similar nature need to be carried out in other rural areas of the country.[1]