October 10, 2011To:The Honourable Astrid Krag, Minister of HealthThe Folketingets SundhedsudvalgDenmarkDear Minister,We have heard with great concern that the Epilepsy Hospital in Dianalund is threatened byclosure due to reorganizations in the Danish health care system.The Epilepsy Hospital in Dianalund is one of the best epilepsy centres in the world and itsactivities have had great impact worldwide on the movements to improve the quality of lifeof the people with epilepsy, even in the Far East countries including Japan. The treatmentand care for the people affected by epilepsy can only be achieved successfully by acomprehensive system organized and coordinated by epilepsy centre(s). Dianalund EpilepsyCentre is the only centre providing comprehensive diagnostics, treatment and care forpeople with epilepsy in Denmark, and is therefore irreplaceable.In addition to the central role in the treatment and care for people with epilepsy in Denmark,Dianalund is also an important centre for epilepsy research. There are many researchactivities involving the collaboration of international institutes and researchers. The DanishEpilepsy Centre has therefore a very important role in coordinating various projects.In the interest of the people with epilepsy and important research activities in this field, wetherefore would like to ask you to kindly take necessary steps to save the existence of theDanish Epilepsy Centre as an irreplaceable epilepsy centre in Denmark and as an importantcontributor to international epilepsy research.Yours sincerely,

PRESIDENT

Sunao KANEKO MD, PhDNeuropsychiatry,Hirosaki University GraduateSchool of Medicine[email protected]

CHAIR:

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Akio IKEDA, MD, PhDDepartment of NeurologyKyoto University School ofMedicine[email protected]

EX OFFICIO

Tatsuya TANAKA, MD,DMScYamabiko Medical WelfareCenter[email protected]

SECRETARY-GENERAL

Masako WATANABE, MDNational Center ofNeurology and Psychiatry,Tokyo[email protected]