This section is completed with the assistance of representatives from the region itself and will be updated, as necessary, only by the Presidents of the individual Regional Societies.

Algeria

In 1962, after independence, there was only one neurosurgeon, Prof. Mohamed Abada, practising in our country. In 1967 he was joined by Prof. Ahmed Boussalah (1932-2000).

In 1974 we commenced resident's courses in neurosurgery and in 1984 the Algerian Society of Neurosurgery was created. The founding members of this society were 25 in total, all of whom had previously been members of the Algerian Society of Neurological Sciences. Our first President was Prof. Ahmed Boussalah. A desire for autonomy was motivated by the wish to promote our own speciality, taking into consideration the particular problems relative to the scarceness of our services throughout the country. At this time only Algiers, Oran and Constantine were covered by neurosurgical services.

Our Society acts as an advisory instrument in submitting proposals to the Health Authorities of our country. At present we have nine services operating:

2 in the West, Oran and Tlemcen
3 in the Centre, Algiers, Blida and Tizi Ouzou
4 in the East, Constantine, Annaba, Batna and Setif

Other responsibilities of our Society include arranging annual meetings and co-operating with other societies in our region. The Algerian Society of Neurosurgeons have participated in the following:

Creation of the Maghrebrian Federation of Neurosurgery
Creation of the Pan Arab Neurosurgical Society
Hosted and organised, in collaboration with the European Association of Neurosurgery, the European-Pan Arab Course in 1986.
Membership of the World Federation of Neurosurgery

Prof. Benaissa Abdennebi

Bahrain

Egypt

Egyptian Society of Neurological Surgeons (ESNS)

Board of Directors elected in May, 2006:

President - Prof. Amro Mansi
President Elect - Prof. Adel El-Haim
Secretary General - Prof. Mohamed El-Fiki
Treasurer - Prof. Mustafa Kotb

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Emirates Neurosciences Society

Founded in December, 2005 under the Presidency of Dr. Abdul Karim Msaddi, with Dr. Imad Hashim Ahmad as Vice President, Dr. Javaid Iqbal as Secretary-General, Dr. Musleh Awad as Chairman, Scientific Programmes and Dr. Ahmed Sayed Ali as a Board Member.

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Gulf Neurosurgical Society

Founded in December, 2005 at a Ibn Sina meeting in Kuwait, the Gulf Neurosurgical Society chose as it's Chairman, Dr. Abbas Ali Ramadan (Kuwait), Secretary-General Dr. Taha Al-Derazi (Bahrain), Vice Chairman Dr. Mohamed Al Joharji (Saudi Arabia), and Treasurer Dr. Ali Hassan Al Kandari (Kuwait).

Jordan Neuroscientists Society

The Jordanian Neuroscientists Society, which was founded in 1983, is part of the Jordanian Physicians Syndicate comprising neurologists of various medical and surgical specialties. The Society has 70 members (40 Neurosurgeons and 30 Neurologists). Chairmanship is based on an alternate basis and elections are held every 2 years. Membership consists of Active, Associate and Honorary.

The objectives of the Society include:
Cooperation and collaboration amongst members to further social and professional relationships
Upgrading level of neurosciences by training doctors; holding symposia and presenting lectures; conducting medical research and exchange of expertise to provide optimal care to patients
Active participation in the Pan-Arab Neurosciences Union
Participation in regional and international neurosciences Societies activities
Cooperation with Physicians Syndicate and Jordanian Medical Board concerning all matters appertaining to neurosciences
Cooperation with other specialist societies in all necessary scientific and professional fields in connection with training of doctors, upgrading of medical standards and encouraging scientific lectures and joint medical research
Establishment of a medical library with particular reference to neurosciences
The Society carries out its scientific, professional and social functions through sub-committees formed by the management staff for this purpose
Endeavouring to establish a neurosciences medical centre.

Dr. Ishaq Maraqa

Kuwait

The first unit of neurosurgery in Kuwait was founded in 1969, then expanded and resumes its service from Al Sabah hospital in 1975. A modern well staffed, well equipped department was established at Ibn Sina Hospital in 1981. This is now the national centre of neurosurgery that aims at providing high quality care to patients whilst keeping abreast of the constant changes in modern neurosurgery

We should also provide training opportunities for our younger doctors and teaching opportunties for medical students in the field of neurosurgery.

The Neuroscience Society was established in 1984 by a group of specalists in Neurosurgery, Neurology, Neuroradiology, Neuroanaesthesia, Neurophysiology, Neuropathology, Neurochemistry and other related areas to Neurosciences in Kuwait. Since 1997, it has been subdivided into two independent societies: Neurology Society and Society of Neurological Surgeons, the latter embracing 17 members.

The Kuwait Society of Neurological Surgeons (KSNS) is part of the Kuwait Medical Association.

The objectives of the Society are:

1. To increase co-operation among professionals working in the field of neurosurgery.
2. To exchange information, hold seminars and lectures, and exchange ideas in the various sub-specialties of neurosurgery
3. To encourage scientific research among members of the Society through the holding of research seminars and the participation of various specialists in the research works discussed.
4. To promote scientific links and relations between the neurosurgeons in Kuwait and their colleagues in the Arab world.
5. To establish further contacts with international bodies in all fields of neurosurgery.
6. To organise interntional conferences in neurosurgery.

Membership:

a) Activie members:
Resident member, a doctor specialised in neurosurgery for a minimum of 5 years.

b) Associate members:
- Members of the Kuwait Medical Association who have worked for period of not less than 5 years.
- Neurosurgeons abroad and not a member of KMA.

c) Honorary members:
These are selected by the Executive Committee of the Kuwait Society of Neurological Surgeons.

The Society shall perform its functions through its Executive Committee which shall consist of three resident members, comprising of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, Secretary and/or Treasurer.

The Executive Committee shall be elected by secret ballot by the resident and associate members of the Society.

The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the Society, organise its activities, execute resolutions and represent the Society before government, scientific and international bodies.

The term of the Executive Committee shall be for two (2) years.

Dr. Abbas Ramadan

Qatar

Neurosurgery service in Qatar is provided by the Neurosurgery Unit at the Hamad General Hospital. This is an acute general hospital that together with the Women's Hospital and Rumailah Hospital (for Rehabilitation) constitutes the Hamad Medical Corporation. This hospital complex, which is located in the heart of Doha, the capital city of Qatar, cater for a total of 1200 in-patient beds and is the sole provider for acute, secondary and tertiary medical care for a population of approximately 700,000.

All acute and elective neurosurgical conditions are treated in our unit. Around 350 cases are operated upon per year for various neuropathological conditions.

Spine surgery constitutes more than 65% of our workload where a large number of patients are treated for spondylosis, tumours, trauma, spina bifida and infection (mainly spinal TB).

In conjunction with a Maxillofacial team, we provide a specialised skull base and craniofacial surgery service.

Neurointensive care is provided in a modern 24-bedded complex.

There are 6 busy outpatient clinics per week with more than 5,000 patient visits/year. In addition, there is a specialised Pituitary Clinic, a Neuro-endocrinology service run jointly with Endocrinologists with a special interest in pituitary disorders.

The Radiology Department in the hospital possesses two MRI scanners, two CT scanners and a modern angio suite and interventional Neuroradiology services are available on site.

The Unit is recognised as a training centre for Arab Board and FRCS programmes and we have links with several Neurosurgery centres in Europe and North America

Dr. El-Fatih Bashir

Lebanon

In 1954 the first fully trained Arab Neurosurgeon, Dr. Fuad S Haddad arrived in Beirut after a full training at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, after obtaining the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (Can) and the American Board of Neurosurgery. In an effort to group all those interested in clinical Neurosciences, he founded, in 1955, the Lebanese Society of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. At the time there were only two Neurosurgeons, three Neurologists and 11 Psychiatrists. He prepared a Constitution, which was aproved by the General Assembly at its first meeting and the following Executive Committee was elected: Prof. Theophile Maround, President, Dr. Fuad S Haddad, Secretary, Dr. Abdallah Itani, Treasurer and Drs. Ford Roberson and Emile Sabbagha Members. The first documented meeting of this Executive Committee convened at the home of Prof. Sami Haddad on May 8, 1955 and elected as its temporary local the Neuropsychiatric Clinic. The Society held its first scientific meeting on May 18, 1955.

It later held regular biannual scientific meetings, and often met at one of the centres of Neurosciences in Lebanon. The year 1960 was important in two ways. This year the Society adopted its Code of Ethics, a very comprehensive deontological work prepared by Dr. Ala'-ed-Dine Drouby.

It was also during this year that the second permanent Lebanese Neurosurgeon arrived in Beirut. Dr. Gedeon Mohasseb established the second Neurosurgical unit in the country, at Hotel-Dieu. He had trained under Prof. Gros in Montpellier and received his French 'Aggregation'. He added a new dimension to Neurosurgery by introducing novel procedures, among others the transsphenoidal approach to the pituitary gland, thalamotomy for Parkinson's disease and the ventriculo-peritoneal shunting procedure to supersede the ventriculo-atrial type of shunting previously in use. Dr. Sami Nassar joined the American University of Beirut staff in 1967 after full training at the New York Neurological Institute. He held the American Board of Neurosurgery and was a welcomed addition to the staff of AUB. By that time Dr. Salim Ghostine had returned from Philadelphia where he trained under Spitz. He developed Neurosurgery at the Berbir and Sacre-Coeur hospitals. Dr. Kamal Rifka returned from Notre Dame Hospital in Montreal (Canada) and started his practice at the Lebanese Geitaoui Hospital.

By 1970 the Society's membership become so large and so heterogeneous and the interests of its members differed so much that it was split in three divisions in the same Society namely the Division of Neurology, that of Neurosurgery and the largest being the Psychiatry Division.

Three years before the beginning of the strife in Lebanon another three young men finished their training in Neurosurgery and returned from abroad: Dr. Shawki Nahra from Montreal, Dr. Maurice Saba from Syracuse and Dr. Tarek Shaar from London. All three were fully certified and arrived in Beirut, just before the war started in 1973. During these years only a small number of neurosurgeons returned whilst others left the country.

In 1982 there were only 6 members in the Division of Neurosurgery while the census of Neurosurgeons in the coutnry, all inclusive was 16.

It was not unitl 1992 that each Division of the Society took its full autonomy and the Aurgical Division became independent. It was named the Lebanese Society of Sugical Neurologists. At its foundation it grouped 21 Neurosurgeons. Since then the number has spiraled to reach, at the last count, the staggering number of 110 for a country of less than four million inhabitants.

Prof. Fuad S Haddad

Morocco

Oman

The special field of neurological surgery in the Sultanate of Oman has come a long way to its current status par with many modern neurosurgical centres on the globe. The creation of Khoula Hospital in the 1970s paved for the opening of many surgical specialties. However, the patients with neurosurgical problems had to go abroad to seek treatment until Prof. Turel made many regular visits to Oman commencing in the 1980s to carry out such work as VP shunts, closure of meningomyelocoeles, craniotomies for traumatic intracranial focal mass lesions (epidural and subdural haematoms) and large skull tumour as at that time the hospital was not sufficiently equipped to do more complex operations. Many renowned professors of neurosurgery have guided and assisted, since that time, in building up what is today a fine neurosurgical centre.

We have a team of 16 doctors. Dr. S Lad is managing one unit and Dr. RR Sharma the other. There is one small unit in Sultan Quaboos Hospital in Salalah consisting of two neurosurgeons, who have for over a decade now managed conventional neurosurgical work very successfully.

The Neurosurgical Society of Oman was founded in early 2001 under the leadership of Dr. RR Sharma. The aims and objectives of the Society are:

1. To promote neurosurgical services in the Sultanate
2. Develop cordial relations among the members of the Society and more frequent interaction.
3. Conducting workshops, seminars and conferences under the banner of the Society. We can educate medical personnel and through them provide better medical services to the population.
4. We can educate the public through our activities so that they are informed regarding advancements of neurosurgical facilities and care available in the Sultanate.
5. Our national Society will represent the Sultanate in WFNS, ACNS, European Society, etc.and different international societies.

Annual two (2) day conferences must be held once a year with 4-5 speakers, free papers and 1-2 guest lectures by invited speakers, along with poster presentations.

We also have an established Skull Base Society that was formed with the aim of creating a multidisciplinary approach in the management of complex skull/base cranio-facial cases. We meet as a Society 3-4 times per year and these meetings have benefitted all specialties interested in skull base surgery.

Dr. Rewati R Sharma

Saudi Arabia

Neurosurgery in Saudi Arabia has come a long way since the first neurosurgeon from India was recruited to the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital (RAFH) in 1964. In 1976 the King Faisal Specialist Hospital opened their neurosurgical department, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kaden, an American and Prof. Ossama Al-Mefty and Prof. Fox. Since that time neurosurgical units have been established in the majority of hospitals throughout the Kingdom.

Dr. Gallingham introduced stereotactic procedures in 1982 to the Kingdom and Prof. Khalaf Al Moutaery chose this as his sub-specialty and continues to this day in this area of expertise.

A Training Programme for Functional Neurosurgery for Movement Disorders, under the guidance of Prof. Christoph Ostertag (Freiburg, Germany), was commenced several years ago at the RAFH.

Although initially, young neurosurgeons had to travel abroad for training in neurosurgery in the early 1990s the Arab Board of Neurosurgery was set up with a five year programme established between the four major centres in the Kingdom and a number of candidates have since graduated their Fellowship examinations.

In 1981, the first Spinal Unit was founded with the collaboration of three hospital, Ministry of Health, King Saud University and the King Faisal Specialist Hospital. This foundation was supported by the World Health Organisation. The nucleus of the Unit started in 1979 at the Riyadh Central Hospital. After a short time the number of surgeries averaged 200-250 cases per year.

Presently, there are several Spinal Units in the Kingdom with state of the art procedures being undertaken on a daily basis offering state-of-the-art systems and fixation.

Educational Courses and Symposia are a regular feature within the yearly calendar and many hospitals/ individuals have established ties with the main neurosurgical societies, i.e. WFNS, WSSFN, EANS, AANS, etc. and Courses have been held here in cooperation with these Societies.

Due to the efforts of several pioneering neurosurgeons in promoting our specialty and ensuring up to date care of patients, neuro/spinal surgery within the Kingdom is now recognised as a forerunner both within the region and internationally.

Syria

Neurosurgery in Syria, mostly trauma, was part of general surgery until 1969 when the first fully trained neurosurgeon in the coutnry, Dr. Hisham Bakdash, returned to Damascus. He arrived after completing specialisation at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and after obtaining the American Board of Neurosurgery. He established the Department of Neurosurgery at the College of Medicine in Damascus University.

Prof. Bakdash started a curriculum and wrote a Neurosurgery textbook in Arabic (Syrian Universities teach medicine in Arabic). He also established a residency-training programme.

At the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Katramiz, who specialised in West Germany, has been the Chief Neurosurgeon in the main teaching hospital of the Ministry in Damascus. He supervises the residency-training programme and the Ministry of Health Committee that examines eligible trainees in neurosurgery, which allows them to practice this specialty. Dr. Katramiz is the current President of the Syrian Society of Neurosciences. Other neurosurgeons have contributed to the specialty, Dr. Farouk Nahas in Aleppo, Dr. Marwan Zahra in the Military and Dr. Fawaz Assad in Al-Asad Teaching Hospital in Damascus.

In an effort to group all those interested in neurosciences, the first scientific meeting was held on April, 24 1986 in Palmyra.

On January 14, 1994 an Executive Committee was elected: Prof. Hisham Bakdash (President) and Dr's. Katramiz, Nahas, Asaad and Kasem Jandali (Members). Thus, the Syrian Society of Neurosciences was official. It included neurosurgeons, neurologists and psychiatrists. The membership was about 120, mostly neurosurgeons.

The Society holds biannual scientific meetings and has been active in promoting neurosciences in Syria. Also, it has been collaborating with local, regional and international organisations.

In the 1970s and 1980s, neurosurgical centres spread rapidly in major cities in Syria, most of them belonging to Universities, the Ministry of Health and the Military. In the 1990s private hospitals attracted neurosurgeons with their well equipped facilities.

Dr. Mohamed Hassan Katramiz

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is made up of seven states and these include: Abu Dhabi (capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quaim, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujeirah. Al Ain is considered part of Abu Dhabi. The division is also considered as Abu Dhabi and Al Ain on the one hand and the remainder as the Northern Emirates. The national population is about 2,444,000 (2000 estimate, Source: United National Population Division (UNPD), 1996) and the Abu Dhabi population is approximately 398,695 (estimate 1995). Dubai city population is about 265,702 (estimate, Source: UNPD 1995).

UAE has three types of neuroscience healthcare providers; federal government, local state government and private. Neuroscience services are available in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujeirah. The latter three states have one Consultant Neurosurgeon each. Abut Dhabi has three neurosurgical centres (Tawan and Al Ain Hospitals with about four Consultant Neurosurgeons) and the Al Ain University.

Dubai neuroscience is served by:

1. Ministry of Health (Federal Government) - Al Baraha Hospital (1 Consultant Neurosurgeon)

2. Government of Dubai (Local Government) Rashid Hospital (2 Consultant Neurosurgeons)

3. The Private sector - Hospitals (American, Welcare, Iranian, Dowali), Medical Centres and Clinics (5 Neurosurgeons). The hospitals contract the services of the neurosurgeons.

Neuroscience in UAE is working towards achieving international status comparable to international centres of repute. The current aims are:

1. To enhance awareness of disorders of the nervous system and their modern management using the latest technology and accepted standards of diagnostic and theapeutic techniques.

2. To introduce team approaches and multidisciplinary involvement in achieving the best outcome and quality of life.

3. To create a solid forum of neuroscience disciplines for enforcing and maintaining high standards of neuroscience care.

4. To liaise with international centres and renowned team of specialists with an emphasis on multidisciplinary and modern technology aided advanced management of disorders of the central nervous system.

The Emirates Neuroscience Society has now been created and this comes under the umbrella of the Emirates Medical Association. The aims of the Society are

To be an organisation of like-minded collaborative scientists and physicians committed and dedicated to understanding the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Research provides the basis for understanding the medical fields concerned with treating nervous system disorders. These medical specialties include neurology, neurosurgery, neurophysiology, neurorehabilitation, psychiatry, ophthalmology; and other disciplines who cooperate together with these specialties should also consider being members of neuroscience societies; for example, orthopaedics and maxillofacial surgery.
To set achievable goals that will help to:
Advance the understanding of the nervous system by bringing together scientists of various backgrounds and by encouraging research in all aspects of neuroscience.
Promote education in the neurosciences.
Inform the public about results and implications of new research.
The exchange of information:
A series of courses, workshops and symposia held at regular and frequent meetings should promote the ongoing education of Society members.
Include the provision of information to the public about the progress and benefits of neuroscience research. The Society should consider providing information about neuroscience to secondary school teachers and encourage its members to speak to young people about the brain and nervous system.
Provide information to legislators and administrators through joint advisory meetings.
Support the continuing interest in neuroscience through a series of public presentations, symposia and events planned with other scientific organisations and promote the themes of "Brainstorming the 21st Century" or "The Millenium of the Brain".

The mission statement will be to improve human health nationally and worldwide by promoting prevention and the care of persons with disorders of the nervous system by:
Fostering the best standards of neurological practice.
Educating, in collaboration with neuroscience and other international public and private organisations.
Facilitating research through its research groups and other means.

The introduction of neurological services to Al Baraha Hospital, Dubai Medical District, Dubai in February 2000 was the initation of neurosciences in this federal government facility. Currently, with one Consultant Neurosugeon and one Specialist Neurosurgeon the Department of Neuroscience is now in existence; neurosurgery being the main service at this stage. The remainder of the allied services will be introduced over a period of time. The aim is to develop a Centre of Excellence in Neuroscience for the Northern Emirates. For such a centre to exist and function efficiently, it requires introduction of specialist services within neuroscience; for exmaple, the comprehensive management programme for epilepsy, radiosurgery (gamma knife, x-knife or linaac), minimally invasive surgical techniques and functional neurosurgery. Additionally, academic neuroscience will be enhanced by the introduction of research facilities and liaisons with international institutions.

Dr. Javaid Iqbal

Yemen

Links with other Societies

European Association of Neurological Societies

The PANS have enjoyed a very close relationship with the European Association of Neurological Surgeons for many years. An EANS-PANS Course was first organised in Cairo, in 1978, and has since been held in a host country in our region every second year. Many European speakers play an important part in these Courses and along with esteemed regional speakers, assist in furthering the knowledge and skills of our members.

Their website is www. EANS.org.

World Association of Lebanese Neurosurgeons (WALN)

The World Association of Lebanese Neurosurgeons (WALN) is an inclusive body of professionals involved in the practice of neurosurgery, who have an interest in or any connection with Lebanon. Its Mission is to foster the Lebanese neurosurgical heritage and to promote bridges of professional brotherhood among neurosurgeons of Lebanese descent and/or education. Objectives consistent with this Mission include the furthering of professional and academic contacts between neurosurgeons in Lebanon and abroad. Founded in 1993 by Prof. Issam Awad, it groups around 300 neurosurgeons, mostly in Lebanon, North America, South America and Europe. It has a board of Officers, a website, http://www.waln.org, a biyearly newsletter, meets twice a year in the US and every two years in Lebanon.

The WALN has been a close supporter of the PANS and some members serve as liaison with the PANS.

World Federation of Neurological Societies

The Pan Arab Neurosurgical Society became a full member of the WFNS in 1997. We are gaining a recognised reputation within the Federation and many of our distinguished senior colleagues have been assigned high-ranking positions within the WFNS.

The WFNS have sponsored several courses in our region, the most recent being in Jordan in 2000. We look forward to the next in Damascus, Syria in September, 2006.

Morocco hosted the 13th World Congress of Neurosurgery in June 2005 in Marrakesh.

Several of our regional colleagues have been elected to prestigious posts for the WFNS . This can only further consolidate our links with the Federation and hopefully facilitate closer working relationships with colleagues at home and abroad.

Their website can be found on www. WFNS.org

World Society Stereotacic & Functional Neurosurgeons

The WSSFN held a Course at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Saudi Arabia, in November 2003, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Khalaf Al Moutaery (Continental Vice-President of the WSSFN).

Their website is wssfn.org

Asian Australasian Neurosurgical Society (AANS)

Over the last several years the Pan Arab Neurosurgical Society has been able to strengthen its ties with our colleagues to the East and many now subscribe to our Pan Arab Journal of Neurosurgery. Some of their senior neurosurgeons kindly agreed to join us as Members of our International Advisory Board for the Journal and are actively participating in the review process of submitted articles, as well as submitting articles themselves for publication

We hope to continue to work together, to reinforce our goals of sharing our neurosurgical experiences and knowledge, thereby promoting better neurosurgical practice and thus patient care, throughout the regions.

Website is: www.AANS.com

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