Speaking at the Future of Stroke Prevention workshop on December 7, Dr. Vo Van Tan, Head of Neurology at Gia Dinh People’s Hospital, cited statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). Globally, 13.7 million people die from strokes annually, with 25% of people over the age of 25 affected by stroke.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 5.5 million lives each year. It is also the leading cause of disability in young people, impacting 116 million individuals globally.

Dr. Tan reported that Vietnam has a stroke incidence rate of 1,100–1,200 per 100,000 people, with a mortality rate of 210 per 100,000 people.

Among stroke patients in Vietnam: 77% can return to normal life after treatment, 21% suffer from disabilities, and 8.3% die from the condition.

Compared to Thailand, Vietnam’s stroke mortality rate is 1.5 times higher, and ischemic stroke deaths are three times higher.

Dr. Tan acknowledged advances in stroke treatment in Vietnam but emphasized that, even after a decade of progress, it remains the leading cause of death. He identified four primary challenges:

Inadequate Primary and Secondary Prevention: Efforts to prevent initial and recurrent strokes are not yet optimal.

Limited Adoption of Standardized Acute Stroke Treatment: This has not been implemented widely across healthcare facilities.

Gaps in Knowledge of Acute Stroke Treatment: Many healthcare providers lack updated expertise in stroke care.

Uneven Treatment Quality Across Regions: Significant disparities exist in post-stroke care and treatment capabilities among medical facilities.

On the same day, at the Regional Healthcare Conference held in Vinh Long Province, health leaders from 31 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta, Southeast Vietnam, Central Highlands, and South Central Coast signed an agreement to build and develop a regional cancer prevention network.

This initiative aims to implement cancer prevention and treatment plans from now until 2030, with a vision for 2045, improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients in these regions.

The plan will provide comprehensive care, from early screening in asymptomatic stages to end-of-life and palliative care in the community.

Linh Thuy