The world’s first multi-sector advocacy movement dedicated to stroke – the Global Stroke Action Coalition – has issued an urgent call to action to address growing inequities in stroke.
Already a leading cause of death and disability, without intervention, the global burden of stroke is projected to rise by a further 50 per cent over the next 25 years, claiming 100 million lives and costing US$1.6tn each year.
At the launch, health and economic policy specialists, clinical experts and people with lived experience of stroke, highlighted key data and recommendations for action to address the human and financial impact of stroke.
Drawing on both data and the lived experiences of people affected by stroke, the Coalition shared their inaugural policy document StrokeAction Now which sets out evidence-based examples of interventions that can significantly advance progress on the disease.
“The global burden of stroke has doubled in the past 30 years,” said Coalition co-chair, professor Bo Norrving.
“During that same period huge advances have been made across the care pathway that offer us an incredible opportunity to reduce inequitable health outcomes and make significant progress towards global health and development targets. Committing to the development of National Stroke Plans should be a key priority for governments as part of their forward strategy for prevention and control of NCDs.
“We can’t afford to wait another 30 years to turn this around. Millions of lives depend on governments taking action now.”
Coalition leaders are calling on governments attending the 4th High-Level UN Meeting on NCDs in September this year, to commit to five actions, including:
Making stroke a priority in NCD prevention and control strategies so that it becomes an explicit and integral part of national and internal health agendas.
- Developing National Stroke Action Plans that address the entire care pathway and include measurable targets that respond to in-country needs.
- Committing to funding evidence-based interventions and exploring innovative financing models, such as taxing harmful substances, to build domestic resources.
- Implementing robust stroke monitoring systems that measure changes in the stroke burden and the provision and outcomes of stroke care.
- Including stroke survivors and caregivers in policy development and prioritise meaningful representation at all levels of decision-making.
The Coalition is urging governments to ensure that stroke is recognised, prioritised, and acted upon.
