Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary (second from right) inaugurates the neurology seminar in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

For about 40 patients suffering from various types of severe neurological disabilities, Neurology Update-2012 turned out to be a boon.

As about 50 specialists from metropolitan cities had descended down in the state capital today, the patients took the opportunity to consult the specialists. The continued medical education programme was jointly organised by Indian Epilepsy Association and the neurology department of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS).

Dr Ashok Kumar, the head of neurology department, IGIMS and organising secretary of the event, said the patients could make the most of the opportunity as best neurologists from across the country had gathered in Patna.

“Many of them are very poor and cannot afford to go to big cities. Some others decided to attend the event to take the experts’ opinions,” Kumar said.A large number of patients, along with their relatives, was seen camping outside the seminar venue to consult the experts.

“Two of my sons suffer from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare hereditary neurological disorder. Their torso is disabled because and mental growth is also stunted. Doctors here had suggested me to consult experts at AIIMS, New Delhi. But I could not go there because of financial crisis. Today, I am happy that Dr Kameshwar Prasad, a veteran from the country’s premier hospital. gave time to my children. He did not even charge for the consultation,” said a resident of old Patna.