AIIMS Delhi CME Urges Massive Overhaul of Stroke Care
AIIMS Delhi recently collaborated with the Indian Stroke Association to organise a major continuing medical education programme. The landmark event highlighted the urgent need to expand stroke care in India across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. More than 400 healthcare professionals gathered to discuss prevention, rapid diagnosis, and cutting-edge interventions.
Shift Towards Function Preservation in Stroke Care in India
Clinicians must shift their clinical focus from merely identifying neurological deficits to actively preserving functional brain tissue. AIIMS Director Dr Nikhil Tandon emphasised this critical transition during the keynote address. Therefore, healthcare teams must view acute stroke management as a collective and time-critical responsibility. Furthermore, medical leaders paid tribute to Egas Moniz, the pioneer of cerebral angiography, celebrating the centenary of this diagnostic technique.
Building Resilient Hub-and-Spoke Referral Networks
National health leaders stressed the importance of decentralised screening and prompt patient transfer. Ministry of Health officials highlighted how Ayushman Arogya Mandirs can detect cardiovascular risk factors early. Additionally, structured training for ASHAs, ANMs, and community health officers can significantly accelerate triage. Consequently, robust hub-and-spoke referral models will ensure that acute cases reach specialized stroke centres within the golden window.
Advancing Neurovascular Interventions and Domestic Technology
Tertiary centres must scale up endovascular thrombectomy and acute neurovascular interventions. Dr Shailesh Gaikwad underscored the necessity of expanding neuroimaging and catheterization suites nationwide. Moreover, experts strongly advocated for indigenous Make-in-India neurovascular devices to reduce procedural costs. Simultaneously, NITI Aayog representatives outlined brain-health initiatives in 12 aspirational districts to integrate community education and youth ambassadors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What was the primary theme of the AIIMS Delhi stroke CME?
The CME carried the theme 'Save the Brain -- Stroke is Preventable and Treatable.' It focused on strengthening the entire continuum of care, from community prevention to advanced endovascular interventions.
Q2: How will primary healthcare centres contribute to stroke management?
Primary centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will screen for major risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Furthermore, frontline workers will identify acute stroke symptoms and refer patients quickly via hub-and-spoke networks.
Q3: Why is domestic neurovascular device manufacturing important for stroke care?
Promoting Make-in-India neurovascular devices helps lower the cost of advanced stroke interventions like mechanical thrombectomy. Consequently, high-tech neurointerventional procedures become far more accessible to patients across India.
References
- AIIMS Delhi continuing medical education calls for expanding stroke care toadvanced treatment - ETHealthworld
- Indian Stroke Association. Save the Brain Initiative and Stroke Guidelines. 2026.
- World Stroke Organization. Addressing stroke care disparities in India. 2022.
