WSC 2023 | Overcoming disparities in IV thrombolysis use

James Grotta, MD, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, comments on major challenges facing the global implementation of optimal acute stroke care. Addressing global disparities in intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) implementation poses multifaceted challenges. The cost of drugs and limited access to physicians, imaging facilities, and emergency services are significant barriers. Efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to enhance thrombolysis and thrombectomy availability underscore the need to establish robust infrastructure and bolster healthcare manpower. Mobile stroke units (MSUs) may be a valuable approach in underdeveloped areas, functioning as portable emergency clinics, effectively delivering treatment for numerous time critical illnesses. Ultimately, addressing these implementation gaps must involve a strategic focus on infrastructure, healthcare personnel, and innovative approaches like MSUs for equitable stroke care globally. This interview took place at the World Stroke Congress (WSC) 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

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