Part 15: Free Epilepsy & Neurology Treatment

Epilepsy affects ~12 million Indians, yet 70%+ don’t receive adequate treatment due to stigma and lack of awareness about free services. Here is how to get free epilepsy and neurology care.

---

1. Where to Get Free Epilepsy Treatment

District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)

• Epilepsy is integrated into the DMHP. Your nearest District Hospital should have a DMHP clinic that provides:
• Free diagnosis (clinical assessment)
• Free anti-epileptic drugs: Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Sodium Valproate, Phenobarbital are available at most government hospitals.
• Free counseling for patients and families.

NIMHANS, Bengaluru

• Department of Neurology — India’s best for epilepsy.
• Advanced diagnostics: EEG, Video-EEG, MRI available.
• Epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant epilepsy.
• OPD: ₹10.

AIIMS Neurology Departments

• All AIIMS campuses have a Department of Neurology.
• Epilepsy diagnosis and treatment at subsidized rates.
• EEG: ₹200-500. MRI: ₹1,000-3,000.

2. Anti-Epileptic Medicines — Availability & Cost

Medicine	Private Pharmacy	Government Hospital	Jan Aushadhi
Phenytoin 100mg (30 tabs)	₹40-60	Free	₹5-10
Carbamazepine 200mg (30 tabs)	₹60-100	Free	₹10-15
Sodium Valproate 200mg (30 tabs)	₹80-120	Free	₹15-20
Levetiracetam 500mg (30 tabs)	₹200-400	Free (at larger hospitals)	₹30-50
Clobazam 10mg (30 tabs)	₹100-150	Free	₹15-25

3. Key Steps for Epilepsy Patients:

1. Get diagnosed at a government hospital (Neurology OPD).
2. Get an EEG — Free at some government hospitals, ₹200-500 at others.
3. Start medication — Collect from DDC (free) or Jan Aushadhi (cheap).
4. Regular follow-up — Every 3-6 months at the same government hospital.
5. If drug-resistant — Get referred to NIMHANS or AIIMS for advanced evaluation and possible epilepsy surgery.

---

Next: Part 16 — Free Kidney Dialysis & Transplant