Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a Chronic and Notifiable Condition: Advancing the Global Health Agenda
Tariq Khan, Chair, TBI Working Group of the G4 Alliance
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be systematically neglected in international health frameworks, despite its status as a substantial global health burden. In response, a global coalition, which includes the Northwest School of Medicine Pakistan, the Canadian Brain Injury Consortium, and the NIHR Cambridge ABSI group, has initiated an ambitious initiative to recognize TBI as a chronic and notifiable condition. This initiative has rapidly acquired international traction, resulting in the establishment of the G4 Alliance TBI Working Group to facilitate policy recognition, standardize reporting, and improve global data collection.
A Movement that is Gaining Momentum - In 2023, the movement to acknowledge TBI as a chronic and notifiable condition commenced when global neurosurgeons and public health advocates identified a critical gap: despite its devastating long-term impact, TBI was not included in significant global health policies. In response, a strategic advocacy initiative was established, which garnered support at significant international conferences such as the WFNS Global Neurosurgery Conference in Peshawar (2024), the G4 Alliance meeting in Geneva (2024), and the International NeuroTrauma Society (INTS) meeting in the UK (2024).
The G4 Alliance TBI Working Group was formally constituted at the G4 Alliance Meeting in Peshawar (November 2024) to build on this momentum and lead the global policy agenda for TBI recognition. The working group consists of prominent healthcare professionals, neurosurgeons, researchers, policymakers, and patient advocates who are united in their efforts to prioritize TBI as a global health concern.
The Working Group has established a specific goal: to present a WHA-TBI Position Paper at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May 2025, thereby establishing the foundation for a future WHO resolution. The paper offers a comprehensive framework for the integration of TBI into global health policy. Simultaneously, the GEO-TBI Registry is being piloted in Cambridge, UK and Northwest General Hospital, Peshawar Pakistan, to collect standardized TBI data in a variety of healthcare settings. This data-driven approach is designed to influence international policymaking by illustrating the magnitude of the TBI burden and the pressing necessity for sustainable funding, policy prioritization, and structured surveillance.
Geneva 2025: A Significant Moment WHA-TBI Side Event – As part of its advocacy efforts, the G4 Alliance TBI Working Group is coordinating a side event at the 78th WHA in Geneva on May 21, 2025, at the Novotel Geneve Centre, hosted and sponsored jointly by the coalition. This event will function as a global platform to introduce and distribute the WHA-TBI Position Paper, present initial data from the GEO-TBI Registry, participate in high-level discussions with stakeholders, WHO representatives, and country officials, organize expert panel discussions, and amplify the voices of TBI patients by utilizing lived experience testimonies, especially with LMIC representation. The event will also explore funding strategies, policy integration, and international collaborations, such as with the brain economy entities to expand TBI care.
The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) has played a critical role in the promotion of global neurosurgery. WFNS commits to utilizing its extensive network to promote the recognition of TBI as a chronic and notifiable condition as part of this initiative. The WFNS leadership and member societies are encouraged to support international policy dialogues, contribute to the GEO-TBI Registry, and participate in the WHA78 side event.
Call to Action: The journey toward the official recognition of TBI as a chronic and notifiable condition is both necessary and ambitious. To accomplish this, the G4 Alliance TBI Working Group urges global neurosurgeons, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to promote the recognition of TBI within national health frameworks, participate in the GEO-TBI Registry to enhance data-driven policymaking, attend the WHA-TBI Side Event in Geneva (May 2025) to fortify global advocacy efforts, and expand outreach and policy influence by utilizing WFNS networks.
This collective endeavour presents a unique and historic opportunity to transform global health policy and guarantee that TBI is no longer overlooked in international health discussions. The time to act is now.
For additional information, please reach out to Dr. Almas Fasih Khattak, at almasfasih@gmail.com
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