Manitoba funds adult epilepsy surgery program

Manitoba is establishing an adult epilepsy surgery program, the province says.

An annual investment of $2.5 million will go to starting the program, funding its operations and expanding a pediatric program.

“Investing in a comprehensive adult epilepsy program that can provide monitoring and life-changing surgical intervention for patients will allow Manitobans to get the care they need here at home,” Health Minister Audrey Gordon said in a release.

When it’s fully operational, the province says the program will provide about 50 epilepsy surgeries each year for adults and kids.

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Gordon said the surgery can provide significant lifestyle improvements and reduce ongoing health-care needs for people with the neurological disorder.

The program will be run at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.