Specialized Centers for Parkinson's Treatment with Ultrasound: Requirements Set

The Ministry of Health has defined the operational specifications for specialized neurosurgical centers treating Parkinson's disease and essential tremor using the MRgFUS (Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound) method.

The MRgFUS method is applied to patients who do not respond to pharmaceutical treatments and requires hospital infrastructure. It has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and has a CE mark from the European Medicines Agency.

Centers offering the treatment must adhere to strict patient selection criteria for both essential tremor and Parkinson's disease.

Essential Tremor: The treatment is indicated for patients with moderate to severe tremor that is resistant to medication and affects daily functionality. It is not indicated for head or voice tremors. Patients must be over 22 years of age.

Parkinson's Disease: The method is applied to patients with tremor-dominant type resistant to treatment, where tremor remains the main symptom. It can also be applied to patients who are not candidates for deep brain stimulation.

Contraindications: The treatment is not indicated for pregnant women, patients with kidney disease, heart disease, substance abuse, history of bleeding, or taking anticoagulants. Also excluded are patients with uncontrolled neuropsychiatric diseases or severe cognitive impairment.

The Ministry of Health's decision defines the operating specifications of the centers, including equipment, staff, and the establishment process. Patient data will be recorded in a National Data Registry maintained by the Central Health Council (Ke.S.Y.).