For a long time, many must have thought about having an ASEAN based neurological association. There are already many successful examples of ASEAN professional groupings among other specialties, such as surgery, orthopaedics, mental health, endocrinology and gastroenterology. The needs for similar organization in neurology seem obvious.

Good international meetings such as American Academy of Neurology annual meeting and even AOCN meeting is very expensive to attend. Yet these meetings are very helpful in keeping our skill sharpened and in stimulating our young colleagues in their career development. If neurological associations within ASEAN could pool the resources and jointly organize similar meetings, the number of people who could benefit from these meetings will increase many folds. This indeed will be good for the development of Neurology for this region.

Furthermore, looking long term, as ASEAN develops economically; the clinical practice and research in neurology will also improve. The day will come when neurologists in ASEAN may want to learn from each other within the region as much as they would like to learn from the traditional source in the West. A regional professional organization can thus play a key role in facilitating this exchange. Indeed one can foresee the day when there are regional workshop on various aspects of neurology, exchange fellowship, various research groups, and even regional neurological journal.

The relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the Second International Sumatriptan Symposium in the winter resort of Whistler in Canada after the 15th World Congress of Neurology in Vancouver provide an excellent opportunity for some of the officials of the individual ASEAN neurological associations to discuss this idea. An informal meeting was thus called on September 11, 1993. Present was Dr TG Loh, Dr Abdias Aquino, Dr CB Tan, presidents of the neurological associations of Malaysia, Philippine and Singapore respectively. Also present were Prof. CT Tan and Dr MK Lee from Malaysia, Dr Adulya Viriyavejakul from Thailand. The basic concept of forming a regional neurological association was agreed upon. The Malaysians volunteered to work on the constitution and contact the Indonesians. Each individual present were asked to convey the ideas to their respective associations. It was also decided that the matter could be discussed further in the First AOCN Neuro-epidemiology meeting to be held in Taipei four months later.

A second meeting was thus held on January 9, 1994 in Taipei. Present were Prof. Benjamin Chandra from Indonesia, Dr Abdias Aquino and Dr Mayvelyn Gose from Philippine, Prof. Niphon Pongvarin from Thailand, Dr K. Puvanendran from Singapore and Prof. CT Tan from Malaysia. The name ASEAN Neurological Association (ASNA) was agreed upon. A simple constitution was adopted. It was proposed that the initial activity should be a biennial scientific congress, the first such congress should be in 1995. Prof. CT Tan was to coordinate the affairs of the ASNA until her official formation.

A month later, Dr Mayvelyn Gose, President of the Philippine Neurological Association proposed to inaugurate the ASNA in the Philippine Neurological Association’s annual convention in November 1994 with the first official council meeting. Thus, begins the official journey for ASNA.

(The above was written by Prof. CT Tan, entitled “The Saga of ASEAN Neurological Association – ASNA”, for the occasion of the inauguration of the ASNA during the 16th Annual Convention of the Philippine Neurological Association in Laoag City, Philippine, on November 17, 1994)