New Delhi | January 22, 2026 | 10:49 AM (PIB):
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in India. In cases of stroke, every minute is critical—nearly 1.9 billion brain cells are lost every minute if treatment is delayed. Timely medical intervention can significantly reduce mortality and lifelong disability. However, one of the biggest challenges in stroke care remains the time taken to transport patients to stroke-ready hospitals.
To address this critical gap, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has handed over two Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) to the Government of Assam. This marks a major shift in stroke care delivery for patients living in rural, remote, and hard-to-reach areas. With this initiative, hospitals are now reaching patients directly, rather than patients struggling to reach hospitals.
Developed under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, this initiative reflects the Government of India’s commitment to delivering advanced healthcare services to the poorest, most vulnerable, and underserved populations—including women—even in the most challenging geographical regions.
Handing over the Mobile Stroke Units to the Assam government, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, Dr Rajiv Bahl, said that Mobile Stroke Units were first developed in Germany and later evaluated in major global cities. “India has evaluated these units in the rural, remote, and difficult terrains of Northeast India. We are also the second country in the world to report the successful integration of Mobile Stroke Units with emergency medical services for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients in rural areas,” he said.
