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World Health Assembly Declares Stroke a Public Health Priority
World Health Assembly recognises stroke as a public health priority for the first time
The Hindu
Image: The Hindu
On May 22, 2026, the World Health Assembly adopted its first resolution on strokes, urging nations to prioritize stroke care and improve health systems. Strokes affect 12 million people globally each year, with over half resulting in death. The resolution aims to enhance prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts.
- 01The resolution emphasizes the need for national policies covering prevention, acute treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support for stroke patients.
- 02Kouamivi Agboyibor, a WHO medical officer, described the resolution as 'historic' and a political mandate for action.
- 03In India, stroke incidence ranges from 108 to 172 per 100,000 people annually, with a one-month fatality rate between 18% and 42%.
- 04There are only about 8,000 neurologists and neurosurgeons in India, highlighting a significant care gap.
- 05Experts stress that the resolution should serve as a wakeup call for India to enhance stroke prevention and care.
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The World Health Assembly (WHA) made a landmark decision on May 22, 2026, by passing its first resolution on strokes, urging member states to treat this medical condition as a public health priority. Strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, affect 12 million people annually, leading to over half a million deaths and leaving many survivors with disabilities. The resolution calls for comprehensive national policies that encompass prevention, timely treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support. Kouamivi Agboyibor from the WHO highlighted the resolution as a 'historic' step, creating a political mandate for action. In India, where the incidence of stroke is notably high, the lack of neurologists—about 8,000 for a vast population—exacerbates the challenges in care. Experts emphasize that this resolution should act as a wakeup call for India to improve stroke prevention and treatment mechanisms, leveraging its digital infrastructure for better health outcomes. The resolution aims to reduce the burden of strokes globally and improve health system readiness.
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The resolution encourages countries, particularly India, to enhance stroke care and prevention strategies, potentially reducing mortality and disability rates.
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