Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a multi-organ disease caused by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), continues to challenge health and
care systems around the globe. The pandemic has disrupted acute neurology services
and routine patient care and has impacted the clinical course in patients with chronic
neurological disease. COVID-19 appears to have exposed inequalities of societies and
healthcare systems and had a disproportionate impact on already vulnerable communities.
The next challenge will be to set up initiatives to stop disparities in all aspects
related to COVID-19. From the medical perspective, there is a need to consider inequalities
in prevention, treatment and long-term consequences. Some of the issues of direct
relevance to neurologists are summarised. With this appraisal, the European Academy
of Neurology NeuroCOVID-19 Task Force intends to raise awareness of the potential
impact of COVID-19 on inequalities in healthcare and calls for action to prevent disparity
at individual, national and supranational levels.
