Soon diagnosis and timely treatment of common neurological problems, such as epilepsy, headache, stroke, dementia and brain infections, can be done from the grassroots level of primary health centres, secondary-level district hospitals and NIMHANS at the tertiary level in the State.
Recognising the need to improve treatment and prevent neurological disorders in the community, the State Government in association with NIMHANS and Niti Ayog launched the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (Ka-BHI) in January.
While training of doctors and preparations to start Brain Health Clinics in the three pilot hospitals – Jayanagar General hospital in Bengaluru Urban, SNR Hospital in Kolar and District Hospital in Chickballapur – has begun, the Government has appointed cricketer Robin Uthappa as the brand ambassador for brain and mental health programmes. The pilot project has also been announced in this year’s State Budget.