Karachi, The Interim Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (Rtd) Maqbool Baqar, emphasized the need for improved stroke care and acute stroke centres in Pakistan’s second-largest province during the virtual inauguration of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases’ (NICVD) ‘Stroke Intervention Programme’ in Tando Muhammad Khan.

According to Chief Minister Sindh, the Stroke Intervention Programme is a critical step towards addressing the growing incidence of stroke and the lack of infrastructure for stroke care in both urban and rural areas of Pakistan. With an estimated population of 225 million and a median age of 22.5 years, Baqar highlighted the urgent need for enhanced medical facilities and services.

During his address via video link, the Chief Minister pointed out the high rate of young stroke victims in Pakistan and the poor outcomes due to the scarcity of acute stroke care. He noted the limited number of stroke units and the restricted availability of alteplase (a clot-busting treatment) and thrombectomy services in the country.

Baqar stressed that the burden of stroke remains high in Pakistan and underscored the necessity to improve facilities and centres following the introduction of alteplase (r-tPA) in Pakistan. He commended the NICVD for its initiatives in providing comprehensive stroke services, including clot buster treatment and advanced clot removal (thrombectomy) procedures. The NICVD, since 2021, has treated over 4000 stroke patients, offering acute stroke care services.

The caretaker CM also revealed that the NICVD had successfully trained 8 cardiologists in clot removal procedures. He announced the expansion of stroke services to SICVD Tando Muhammad Khan and SICVD Sukkur, aiming to extend these services throughout the Sindh province.