WSO President Sheila Cristina Ouriques Martins provided an overview of the interventions that WSO is leading to advance improved and more equitable outcomes for stroke patients. Prof Martins also moderated the roundtable discussion with Ministries, supported by key contributions from Atul Gupta MD, (Philips) Signe Haughton (Medtronic0, and World Health Organization/PAHO. Evidence shared by participants served to highlight the postcode lottery of stroke care access and the huge treatment gap that exists in relation to acute stroke treatment, in particular thrombectomy. Only 5% of the eligible patient population currently has access to ground-breaking stroke treatments. This compares to 80% of patients with acute Coronary Artery Disease. Speakers and MoH participants were unanimous in their agreement that health outcomes should not be dictated by geography. The potential economic, healthcare and social returns that would be secured through investment in effective systems of stroke care, were clearly impressed upon policy makers in attendance. The urgency and the opportunity to advance improved stroke outcomes was clear as was the strong commitment to show action. With twelve months to go until the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, WSO will be working to build policy commitment through a stroke focused advocacy coalition with a strong unified voice for the specific challenges and opportunities of stroke in the context of SDG3.4
For an overview of the key evidence and policy recommendations that informed the session please see the WSO Policy Brief Time for a Revolution in Stroke Care
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