Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Performing Behavioral Tasks in Subjects with Intracranial Electrodes
Published on: October 2, 2014
Economic burden of epilepsy in India
S V Thomas1, P S Sarma, M Alexander
1Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India. sanjeev@sctimst.ker.nic.in
Purpose:
The economic burden due to epilepsy is not adequately examined in developing countries. Cost estimates are very important in health care planning and delivery of services. We have estimated the direct and some of the indirect costs of epilepsy in India.
Methods:
Epilepsy centers attached to University hospitals in six states of India participated in this study. Data on clinical characteristics, utilization of medical services, and costs were collected in a standardized format.
Results:
There were 285 patients (mean age, 22.6 + 12.5 years) drawn from six centers in this study. The annual cost of epilepsy per patient was INR 13,755 (USD, 344). The direct cost was INR 3,725 (USD, 93), and the indirect cost was INR 10,031 (USD, 251). Direct cost included medical consultations (INR 329), laboratory services (INR 271), hospitalization charges (INR 316), and cost of travel to clinics (INR 659). The indirect cost included the cost of lost productivity due to seizures, its complications, or attendance to clinics. There are approximately 5 million people with epilepsy in India. The economic burden due to epilepsy to the nation is to the tune of INR 68.75 billion (USD, 1.7 billion).
Conclusions:
The annual economic burden of epilepsy in India is 88.2% of GNP per capita and 0.5% of the GNP.
Related Concept Videos
Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures: Classification
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for their...
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Seizures l: Introduction
Epilepsy ll: Types

