Experts call for wider access to incision-free Parkinson’s treatment
Medical experts are advocating for wider access to MRgFUS, an incision-free ultrasound treatment for Parkinson's disease. While common in the U.S., the procedure remains largely unavailable in India despite its benefits for patients who struggle with traditional medication.
Why it matters
Expanding access to non-invasive neurosurgical procedures could drastically improve the quality of life for aging populations suffering from movement disorders.
An incision-free, ultrasound-based treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, widely used abroad but still scarcely available in India, could significantly improve patients’ quality of life, experts said at the NeuroNext Forum organised by the Vattikutti Foundation on Sunday.
Speaking at the conference, Aniruddha Bhagwat, neurosurgeon at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, said that Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), an FDA-approved treatment, is widely used in countries such as the U.S. but remains largely inaccessible in India.
The conference brought together neurologists, neurosurgeons, patients, and caregivers. “Through the NeuroNext Forum, we aim to bridge the gap between medical expertise and the people who need it most by enabling patients and caregivers to engage with specialists and better understand their treatment journey,” said Abhinav Vattikutti of the Vattikutti Foundation.
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