A new study published in the International Journal of Stroke highlights a critical gap in stroke care accessibility across India, with only one-fourth of the population having access to stroke-ready hospitals.
India records approximately 1.5 million stroke cases annually, 85–90% of which are caused by clots in the brain’s major blood vessels. Effective treatment, such as Intravenous Thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular treatment (EVT), requires timely intervention.
Researchers, led by Dr. Kaiz S. Asif from Chicago-based Ascension Health and Dr. Arun Mitra from AIIMS Hyderabad, mapped the availability of IVT- and EVT-capable stroke centers nationwide. The study revealed that there are 566 IVT-capable centers, of which 361 (63%) also provide EVT. However, these facilities are unevenly distributed, with southern and western states accounting for the majority, while central, eastern, and northeastern regions remain critically underserved.
Key findings include:
- Southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh have the highest proportion of stroke-ready facilities (IVT: 37%, EVT: 35%).
- Northern states and territories account for 20% of IVT and 18% of EVT centers.
- Central, eastern, and northeastern regions collectively make up only 13.5% of IVT and 16% of EVT centers.
The median distance to the nearest IVT and EVT facilities was found to be 115 km and 131 km, respectively, with the northeastern states having the longest travel distances.
“In developed countries like the US and Germany, 90% of the population can access stroke-ready centers within a short time,” said Dr. Padma Srivastava, chairperson of neurology at Paras Health Gurugram and a contributor to the study. In contrast, only 26% and 21% of India’s population are within one hour’s driving distance of IVT- and EVT-capable centers, respectively. States like Kerala, Delhi, and Chandigarh have the best coverage, while regions such as Jharkhand, Odisha, and Ladakh have the least.
Dr. Kameshwar Prasad, former director of RIMS Ranchi, emphasized the importance of both increasing the number of stroke-ready centers and raising awareness about stroke symptoms among the public and primary care providers. “Without public education and trained first-contact professionals, even proximity to stroke-ready hospitals may not translate to effective treatment,” he noted.
As reported by economictimes, the study calls for urgent action to bridge the gap in stroke care infrastructure and awareness to improve outcomes for millions of patients across India.