The World Stroke Organization (WSO)–convened Global Stroke Action Coalition (GSAC) has held its first partnership workshop of 2026 on 9 February, bringing together partners to set priorities for collaborative advocacy in the year ahead.
The World Stroke Organization (WSO)–convened Global Stroke Action Coalition (GSAC) held its first partnership workshop of 2026 on 9 February, bringing together partners to set priorities for collaborative advocacy in the year ahead.
The meeting followed the WHO Executive Board’s approval of the Resolution Reducing the Burden of Stroke: Strengthening Prevention, Acute Care, Rehabilitation and Health-System Readiness. Coalition members welcomed this milestone as both a significant collective achievement, and a catalyst for GSAC’s advocacy agenda in 2026.
Discussions focused on how the Coalition can support Ministries of Health in building momentum for the Resolution ahead of its consideration at the World Health Assembly in May, and how partners can help support implementation and accountability once it is adopted.
Strategic Engagement
Coalition partners reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a visible presence at major global and regional health policy events.
GSAC will convene high-level policy roundtables at both the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Opportunities to collaborate with WHO regional offices will also be explored to expand engagement with policymakers.
Partners agreed that Coalition messaging should continue to reflect the full stroke care pathway -prevention, treatment and rehabilitation - while remaining flexible enough to connect with emerging policy themes such as pandemic preparedness. This approach will also allow individual partners to highlight their organisational priorities within the broader Coalition advocacy agenda.
Policy Publications
Coalition partners committed to developing a finance-focused policy brief exploring the economic burden of stroke and the value of investing in stroke care. This will draw on country-level case studies alongside existing partner research. Additional analytical work, including potential targets and mechanisms for monitoring Resolution implementation, will be explored following adoption of the Resolution.
Advocacy Campaign
Advocacy efforts will continue under the established #StrokeActionNow campaign brand. Updated messaging will support key policy moments and highlight recommendations emerging from new Coalition policy publications.
Direct engagement with policymakers will remain central to Coalition advocacy. The campaign will amplify these efforts while also building broader public awareness and visibility for stroke as a global health priority.
Lived Experience
Coalition members reaffirmed that lived experience must remain central to GSAC activities. Two ambassadors will participate in each member workshop, and two lived-experience advocates will join each Coalition working group, ensuring the perspectives of stroke survivors and caregivers inform Coalition priorities and policy development.
Expanding the Coalition
The Coalition also welcomed Merck as a new partner, joining existing members: American Stroke Association, Asia Pacific Stroke Organisation, Bayer, BI Angels, Chinese Stroke Association, European Stroke Organization, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, March of Dimes Canada, Medtronic and Philips.
Together, these partners continue to strengthen the Coalition’s collective voice in advocating for coordinated global action on stroke.
For more information about the Coalition including partnership enquiries please contact Executive Director, Mia Grupper mgrupper@world-stroke.org
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