Neurodiagnostic Tests, Availability, Accessibility, and Affordability in Low- to High-Income Countries

Most disorders of the nervous system occur in developing countries. In many of these countries, diagnostic tests for neurological disorders are difficult to access and many people have long waiting times or cannot easily afford the tests. Moreover, neurologists usually practice in large cities. The objective of this study was to determine the availability, accessibility, and affordability of electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, head computed tomography (CT), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for neurological disorders in low- to high-income countries. Respondents from 37 countries completed a survey about access, availability, time to access, and affordability of tests based on f…