Submitted by lac59 on Tue, 20/05/2025 - 14:33
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – In a significant advance for global health policy, the Ministry of Health of Pakistan has confirmed its official sponsorship of a ground-breaking resolution to recognize Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a chronic, notifiable global health condition.
"TBI is a global public health crisis hidden in plain sight," said Professor Peter Hutchinson, NIHR senior investigator and head of the Division of Academic Neurosurgery at the University of Cambridge, and a Coalition leader. "For too long, survivors and their families have endured lifelong cognitive impairment, emotional trauma, and economic hardship without adequate policy recognition or support. The commitment from the Pakistan Ministry of Health represents a critical turning point—transforming hope into concrete international action."
A Global Coalition for TBI side event at WHA78, on Wednesday, May 21, at the Novotel Genève Centre, will underscore the urgency of international action on TBI. This severe, yet underrecognized condition disproportionately affects children, young adults, and the elderly. Approximately 69 million people worldwide suffer traumatic brain injuries annually, with youth under 40 experiencing heightened vulnerability due to traffic incidents, violence, and sports injuries. At the same time, the elderly are at significant risk from falls.
The resolution, sponsored by Pakistan and led by the Global Coalition for TBI, will be proposed at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in May 2026 and backed by a diverse and influential Global Coalition comprising clinical experts, TBI survivors, and governmental representatives from Pakistan, Canada, the United States, Australia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt, the United Kingdom, Qatar, South Africa, Bangladesh and other key global partners.
Unlike spinal cord injuries (SCI) or the broader category of acquired brain injury (ABI), TBI requires distinct and specialized attention due to its complex and unique neurological consequences. SCI primarily involves mechanical injury to the spinal cord, whereas ABI encompasses various conditions, including stroke and infections, each differing significantly from the pathophysiology and chronic outcomes associated with TBI.
A targeted TBI-specific approach ensures effective international surveillance, prevention, long-term rehabilitation, and support tailored explicitly to the unique challenges survivors face.
Globally, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts approximately 69 million people annually, claiming more lives than malaria and tuberculosis combined. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights TBI as the leading cause of death and disability among individuals under 40, with the highest burden falling disproportionately on children, young adults, and older populations in low- and middle-income countries. Without intervention, economic losses due to neurotrauma are projected to exceed $4.4 trillion by 2030, deepening existing health disparities and placing immense strain on fragile healthcare infrastructures worldwide.
Standardized international policies, improved surveillance, and comprehensive rehabilitation and prevention strategies will substantially reduce this financial and human toll.
"Recognizing TBI officially as a chronic and notifiable condition aligns precisely with global priorities," said Dr. Tariq Khan Hashim, Coalition leader and Neurosurgeon at Northwest General Hospital and Research Center, Peshawar. "With increasing incidences linked to conflicts, natural disasters, and road accidents worldwide, particularly impacting children and other vulnerable populations, the urgency of this resolution cannot be overstated."
The Global Coalition for TBI event features powerful personal accounts from TBI survivors, alongside clinical perspectives from leading international neurosurgeons, critical care physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and scientists. All call on global leaders to end the silence surrounding TBI.
Barb Butler, a Canadian TBI survivor and advocate, described her personal experience after a car accident 35 years ago: "My severe brain injury didn't just happen to me. It happened to my whole family. My husband lost his wife, and my children lost their mother. It changes everything, forever."
Pakistan's historic commitment joins a rapidly expanding global movement demanding decisive action and leadership from the WHO and member states. The Global Coalition for TBI is confident it will mobilize additional sponsorship from other nations to join Pakistan ahead of WHA79, emphasizing international cooperation, policy innovation, and equitable access to lifelong care and rehabilitation.
If you would like more information from the Global Coalition for TBI on this announcement please contact Kathryn Hendrick
Global Coalition for TBI Communications, hendrickkathryn@gmail.com
