SHERIDAN, WYOMING – May 6, 2025 – In a decisive move to address one of the fastest-growing global health threats, the Global Stroke Action Coalition was launched on April 9, 2025, calling on governments worldwide to make stroke a central priority in noncommunicable disease (NCD) strategies. With the global stroke burden projected to rise by 50% over the next 25 years—claiming an estimated 100 million lives and costing USD 1.6 trillion annually—this new multi-sectoral initiative is demanding urgent, evidence-based action.
Strategic Collaboration to Tackle a Growing Crisis
Convened by the World Stroke Organization, the only global stroke body in official relations with the UN and WHO, the Global Stroke Action Coalition brings together industry leaders, healthcare organizations, and advocacy groups with a unified goal: drive timely and coordinated stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation ahead of the upcoming 4th High-Level UN Meeting on NCDs.
“The World Stroke Organization has convened the Global Stroke Action Coalition to work together and drive bold and urgent action on stroke. Philips is a proud member of this coalition, committed to help expanding access to timely stroke care,” said Carla Goulart Peron, Chief Medical Officer at Philips.
The coalition's launch event included contributions from health economists, clinicians, and stroke survivors, reinforcing the human and financial toll of stroke and the actionable solutions available.
Stroke: A Preventable, Treatable, and Recoverable Disease
Drawing from the coalition’s inaugural policy document, Stroke Action Now, members emphasized that stroke remains largely preventable and significantly treatable with current interventions:
- Preventable: 80% of stroke cases are linked to 10 modifiable risk factors. Managing hypertension alone could cut stroke incidence by 50%.
- Treatable: Innovations like thrombectomy and thrombolysis have proven effective in minimizing disability and improving recovery outcomes.
- Recoverable: Access to structured rehabilitation can restore independence and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Despite these advances, access to care remains alarmingly uneven. Currently, only 3% of medically eligible stroke patients receive thrombectomy, and up to 40% of healthcare systems lack basic rehabilitation services.
Policy-Driven Solutions for Global Health Equity
The Coalition is pressing world governments to act decisively. As articulated by Coalition co-chair Professor Bo Norrving, “The global burden of stroke has doubled in the past 30 years... 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.”
The Global Stroke Action Coalition is urging governments to commit to five key actions at the UN summit:
- Prioritize stroke within national and global NCD frameworks.
- Develop and fund National Stroke Action Plans with measurable targets.
- Explore sustainable financing models, including taxes on harmful products.
- Establish robust stroke data monitoring systems.
- Ensure inclusion of stroke survivors and caregivers in policymaking.
Industry and NGO Leaders Unite
Coalition membership spans healthcare companies, stroke associations, and regional health bodies, including the American Stroke Association, Bayer, Medtronic, Ipsen, and Philips. This diverse representation underscores the coalition’s mission to drive multisector impact.
The launch also spotlighted personal narratives from stroke survivors, including Melinda Roaldson and Joseph Rukelibuga, whose stories further illustrated the urgent need for equitable access to prevention and care.
A Defining Moment for Global Stroke Action
With the September UN High-Level Meeting serving as a pivotal policy milestone, the Global Stroke Action Coalition is rallying stakeholders to recognize stroke not only as a public health priority but also as an opportunity to drive meaningful global health equity.
To explore the coalition’s policy recommendations and access stroke advocacy tools, visit the World Stroke Organization at https://www.world-stroke.org.