Words from the President, March 2026

31 Mar 2026

President’s Message – March 26

It was a privilege to participate in the Angels ASKAN Steering Committee Meeting held in Seoul on 22 March, bringing together key opinion leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.

The meeting provided an important platform to review country-wise updates and progress, highlighting the collective momentum across the region. We also had meaningful discussions on the economic impact of stroke-related studies in each participating country—an essential perspective for strengthening the case for sustainable investment in stroke prevention, care, and rehabilitation.

From World Stroke Organization perspective, I shared updates on the Global Stroke Action Coalition and its growing impact on stroke advocacy at both the United Nations and World Health Organization levels. I also highlighted the significance of the WHO Stroke Resolution, which was approved by the WHO Executive Board on 6 February, marking a critical milestone for advancing stroke as a global public health priority.
Encouraging regional collaboration, strong data, and unified advocacy will be key to translating these discussions into meaningful action for people living with and at risk of stroke.

I also met the World Stroke Congress 2026 Local Organizing committee members and discussed some of the planning of the congress.

A Landmark Moment for Stroke Care in India

On 24^th March in New Delhi, India took a major step forward in tackling one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability with the launch of its National Stroke Action Plan.

Led by Hon’ble Union Health Minister Shri J. P. Nadda and Hon’ble Minister of State Shri Prataprao Jadhav, this milestone reflects growing political commitment to strengthening stroke prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation at scale.

The initiative—co-organised by FICCI in collaboration with the World Stroke Organization (WSO), Indian Medical Parliamentarians Forum, Medtronic, and Philips—demonstrates the power of multi-sector collaboration in driving meaningful health system change.

In November 24, I had convened a meeting with all the WSO board members from India and also some of the WSO Future leaders from India and decided on drafting the National Strpoke Action Plan. The WSO Board members - Dr P. N. Sylaja, Dr. Padma Srivastava, Dr Ivy Sebastian , Dr Arvind Sharma - and Future Leaders Dr Arun Rajeswaran , Dr. Radhika Lotlikar Pathak , Dr Dorcas Gandhi, and Shriram Varadharajan - the plan brings together clinical expertise, policy insight, and implementation ambition.

What makes this plan so important?

It sets out clear, measurable targets for 2030 - a critical shift from aspiration to accountability:

* Reduce the absolute number of strokes by 10%

* Achieve 10% thrombolysis and 5% thrombectomy rates

* Scale a nationwide hub-and-spoke telestroke model

* Integrate stroke care into public insurance schemes (PM-JAY)

* Expand workforce capacity through digital training and certification

* Establish stroke units in 50% of medical colleges

* Strengthen advanced care with thrombectomy-capable centres

* Deploy mobile stroke units in underserved areas

* Empower community health workers with digital and immersive training

Why this matters globally

India’s National Stroke Action Plan is more than a national policy—it’s ablueprint for system-wide transformation.

It reflects exactly the kind of coordinated, cross-sector action needed to deliver on global NCD commitments and accelerate progress towards equitable access to stroke care across the full patient pathway. As the world's most populous country, this action by India can accelerate progress towards global NCD goals.

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