Munivenkatappa_DoesIndia 104 Munivenkatappa, Agrawal Does India have national TBI data? Does India have national TBI population based & economic burden data, is it essential? Ashok Munivenkatappa1, Amit Agrawal2 1Scientist C, VRDL project, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), Chennai – 77 2Department of Neurosurgery, Narayana Medical College Hospital, Chinthareddypalem, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh (India) India is world's fastest-growing major economy. The Economic Survey for 2014-15, reports that both central and state government combined spends 1.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare (1). Currently Indians spend about 1,000 per capita on healthcare (2). Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a lead cause of neurological disability in our country, where neurological disability is expected to be third epidemic in India (3). Our nation lacks population based TBI data. In 2002, it was estimated that nearly 1.5 to 2 million persons are injured and 1 million succumb to death every year in India (4). Currently there are no available accurate data at national level on cost of TBI-related disability in India. The economic loss due to RTA was estimated at nearly INR 550 billion every year (5). The TBI injuries and economic loss are only approximate values. Rapid economic growth, better healthcare to public and more research activities will raise capital consumption, which is now highly expected. Despite recent hikes in healthcare, data on TBI population survey and expenditure is relatively low or nil. Developed countries have details of epidemiology, economic consequences and disease burden of TBI population. A study from Netherlands has estimated TBI incidence of 213.6 per 100,000 person years. The total cost was €314.6 million per year and disease burden resulted in 171,200 disability-adjusted life years (on average 7.1 DALYs per case) (6). A five year study from shahid rajaei trauma hospital, Iran reported the economic burden of TBI; 6.2 billion Rials of hospital costs, 6390 potential years of life lost, and 506 billion Rials of productivity lost. The reports were very much helpful in optimizing healthcare policy and preventing TBI. India has around 362 medical colleges of them approximately 59 colleges have neurosurgical department (7). Nearly 90 biological science research institutes focus mainly on basic research of them only few biological research institutes are involved in brain injury research. The burden of TBI is increasing every year due to rapid increase in motorization, industrialization and urbanization. With this enormous TBI resource and descent staff strength in our Romanian Neurosurgery (2016) XXX 1: 104 - 105 105 country the integrated insight on epidemiology, economic consequences and disease burden of TBI should be explored. Multi institutional participation all over India is required to generate national level TBI population based data and economic burden. The data is very much crucial for developing country like India for better implementing health care guidelines and preventive strategies, as TBI is a major public health issue. Correspondence Dr. Ashok Munivenkatappa Scientist C, VRDL project, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), Chennai – 77 Email id: ashokmphdns@gmail.com Phone no. +91-9844250897 References 1. Budget 2015: In search of an effective healthcare system. By Neelam M Kachhap on April 9, 2015. http://www.financialexpress.com/article/healthcare/cove r-story-healthcare/budget-2015-in-search-of-an- effective-healthcare-system/62145/b 2. Government to hike health care investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2020. Health cess recommended; public health care to be primary focus. Nitin Sethi, New Delhi August 19, 2015. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy- policy/government-to-hike-health-care-investment-to- 2-5-of-gdp-by-2020-115081900035_1.html 3. Das A, Botticello AL, et al. - Neurologic disability: a hidden epidemic for India, Neurology 2012, 79, 2146-7. 4. Gururaj G. -Epidemiology of traumatic brain injuries: Indian scenario, Neurological research 2002, 24, 24-8. 5. Gururaj G. -Road traffic deaths, injuries and disabilities in India: current scenario, Natl Med J India 2008, 21, 14– 20 6. Scholten AC, Haagsma JA, et al. Traumatic brain injury in the Netherlands: incidence, costs and disability- adjusted life years. PLoS One 2014, 9, e110905. 7. Ganapathy K. Neurosurgery in India: an overview. World Neurosurg 2013, 79, 621-8.