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.

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.

WSO - Lancet Neurology Commission on Global Stroke

In this Lancet Neurology Commission, the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) draws up its roadmap to tackle the burden of stroke by 2030 and beyond, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal on health and wellbeing.

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Major advances in acute treatments for stroke care can transform outcomes for patients, improve healthcare system efficiency, reduce social costs and accelerate progress on global health and development goals. The time to act is now.

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WHO releases priority list of medical devices and interventions for stroke

06 Jul 2021

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.

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Key advocacy priorities

13 Sep 2019

Find out more about our global advocacy priorities

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Stroke and SDG 3

29 Aug 2019

In 2015 governments around the world committed to a new global blueprint to deliver peace and prosperity for all.

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The UN

12 Sep 2019

Bringing a stroke focus to the work of International Organizations.

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Advocacy toolkit

29 Aug 2019

Resources to help you advocate for improvements in stroke awareness, prevention, treatment and support.

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Global Stroke Alliance (GSA)

The Global Stroke Alliance (GSA) is a highly impactful implementation meeting organized by the World Stroke Organization (WSO) since 2020. Our primary mission is to establish a powerful global alliance committed to enhancing stroke care on a worldwide scale.

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Downloads

Acting on Stroke and NCDs – Policy Brief

In 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.