Global policy work
The World Stroke Organization works to advance our global advocacy priorities through participation in UN formal consultative processes at global and regional level.
The World Stroke Organization works to advance our global advocacy priorities through participation in UN formal consultative processes at global and regional level.
Our global policy work is focused on advocating for the specific needs of stroke, often within the broader policy context of public health, circulatory health and non-communicable diseases. Activities are coordinated by our Global Policy Committee and Executive and include the development and submission of written and oral statements, the preparation of policy briefs and white papers in collaboration with our global advocacy partners.
Recent advocacy successes include achieving the correct classification of stroke as a disease of the brain in WHO ICD 11 and for the inclusion of tPA in the WHO Model List of Essential Therapies for Stroke.
WHO list of priority medical devices for the management of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes was released on June 30, 2021. Find out the full list in this article.
Find out moreWSO Calls for changes in primary prevention guidelines for cardiovascular disease and stroke
Find out moreFind out more about our global advocacy priorities
Find out moreIn 2015 governments around the world committed to a new global blueprint to deliver peace and prosperity for all.
Find out moreWorking to prevent stroke in partnership - the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health
Find out moreWorking with partners in the NCD space to address shared issues in prevention, treatment and support
Find out moreTools and information to support local stroke advocacy
Find out moreOn World Stroke Day 2018, President Michael Braining highlights the urgent need for action and investment to address the global burden of stroke.
Read articleAfter sixty-two years of officially categorizing stroke as a Disease of the Circulatory System, WHO has taken the major step of recognizing stroke as a Disease of the Nervous System. The decision was warmly welcomed by WSO on the basis that correct classification is fundamental to global efforts to address the massive challenge of stroke.
Read articleIn 2022 NCD Alliance, World Stroke Organization and American Stroke Association published an updated policy brief, Acting on Stroke and NCDs: Preventing and Responding to stroke to work towards Universal Health Coverage. This publication focuses on stroke as a major contributor to the increasing burden of NCDs and the urgent need to implement effective, affordable and widely applicable strategies to prevent and treat stroke.
Statement delivered at the UN Civil Society Hearing on Non-Communicable Diseases in advance of the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs in New York.
Joint statement of the WSO, ESO, WFN and EAN to the 68th WHO European Commitee Meeting, Rome, Italy, 2018.
Statement highlighting the need for urgent and focused action in Europe delivered at the WHO- EURO Committee Meeting for Europe 67th Meeting, Budapest, Hungary 2017.
Developed in collaboration with our partners in the Global Coalition for Circulatory Health, this White Paper highlights the opportunities and key actions required reduce the global burden of circulatory disease, including stroke.
Achieving our vision of a life free from stroke is a task that WSO cannot achieve alone. We are committed to building our partnerships at the global, regional and national level to scale up and deliver improvements in prevention, treatment and support to reduce the burden of stroke.