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New Delhi: A new study has revealed that roughly a quarter of India’s population has access to rehabilitation centres within one hour of experiencing an ischaemic stroke, a common type of stroke caused by a blood clot obstructing blood flow to the brain. The research, published in the International Journal of Stroke, sheds light on the availability of crucial stroke care in India, underscoring the urgent need for improvements in healthcare infrastructure.
According to the study, only about one ischaemic stroke centre exists per million people in India. Despite this, the research estimates that 26.3% of the population can reach an intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) centre—an essential treatment facility that helps break up blood clots—within one hour. Additionally, approximately 20.6% of the population has access to a centre that offers endovascular therapy, a more advanced treatment for stroke patients.
Ischaemic stroke accounts for 70-80% of all stroke cases in India. A September 2024 study published in Scientific Reports highlighted the critical nature of timely treatment, especially for ischaemic stroke patients. Researchers from institutions including Ascension Health in the United States and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Hyderabad, conducted the study, which analyzed the availability of stroke care across 26 states and union territories in India.
The study identified 566 stroke centres equipped with IVT treatment and found that more than 60% of these centres (361) also provided endovascular therapy. However, despite the relatively high number of centres, the study revealed that the average distance for an ischaemic stroke patient to reach the nearest IVT centre is around 115 kilometres, while the distance to an endovascular therapy centre is even further, at approximately 130 kilometres.
The research used data collected in March 2021 from medical device and pharmaceutical industry providers to estimate the accessibility of stroke care. Researchers calculated the time it would take for a person to drive to the nearest treatment centre using the Google Distance Matrix API. The findings pointed to significant geographical disparities in stroke care access, with many rural and remote areas of India facing considerable delays in receiving critical treatment.
The authors of the study emphasized the urgent need to establish more stroke care facilities, particularly in underserved regions of the country. They called for greater efforts to build healthcare infrastructure equipped with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular therapies to improve access and outcomes for stroke patients.
As stroke continues to be a leading cause of death and disability in India, experts agree that swift intervention is crucial to minimize brain damage and improve recovery prospects. The study’s findings highlight the critical need for policy interventions and investment in stroke care services across the nation.
