Global Campaign Against Epilepsy: An update on the China Demonstration Project and Crest Study

ABSTRACT

Global Campaign Against Epilepsy conducted the Demonstration Project to improve epilepsy care in rural China from 2000 to 2004. The project involved 5 provinces and 2,455 patients with convulsive epilepsy using phenobarbital monotherapy. Forty percent of the patients were seizure free in one year and another 30% had their seizures decreased by over half. With the support of the central government, the project has currently been extended to cover 12 provinces with 11,000 patients. The long-term plan is to integrate epilepsy management into the existing primary health delivery system of China.