More than 20 years ago, neurosurgeon Prof Dr Vickneswaran Mathaneswaran set up a one-person Neurosurgery Unit in University Malaya Medical Centre. Today, the unit is recognised as a major Neurosurgical Service and Training Centre in Malaysia. In conjunction with World Brain Day 2022, with its theme of ‘Brain Health For All’, Prof Vickneswaran joins us to take a retrospective look at how far neurosurgery services have come in the teaching hospital, and look ahead to how we can increase access to treatment, support and rehabilitation for patients of brain disorders.