Article · Health news

World Health Assembly approves its first resolution on stroke

Health news Published · sources checked

On 22 May 2026 delegates at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly approved the Assembly's first-ever resolution on stroke.

Key points

  • Delegates approved the resolution on 22 May 2026, according to the WHO's daily update from the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly.
  • It is titled "Reducing the burden of stroke: strengthening prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness".
  • The WHO update says the lifetime risk of stroke has risen by 50% over the past 20 years and that 1 in 4 adults is expected to have a stroke in their lifetime.
  • The resolution calls for stronger national and global action on prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness.

What was announced

On 22 May 2026 delegates at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, the decision-making meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO), approved the Assembly's first-ever resolution on stroke. The resolution is titled "Reducing the burden of stroke: strengthening prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness". It was proposed by Egypt and co-sponsored by Chile, Georgia, Palestine, Paraguay and Tunisia.

What it means

The WHO's update says the lifetime risk of stroke has risen by 50% over the past 20 years and that 1 in 4 adults is expected to have a stroke in their lifetime. The resolution calls for stronger national and global action on prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness.

More guides and news

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