GSA 2025 Conference: Uniting Efforts for a World Free from the Burden of Stroke

A steadfast commitment in the global fight against stroke - a major health burden worldwide. In 2025, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) is hosting the Global Stroke Alliance (GSA) 2025 in the capital city of Hanoi, marking a significant milestone that reflects Vietnam’s rising stature in global stroke care, as well as the WSO’s special attention and recognition of Vietnam’s progress in this field.

This major event in the stroke community is co-organized by WSO, Bach Mai Hospital - one of Vietnam’s leading high-specialty hospitals, the Hanoi Stroke Association, and the Angels Initiative. The conference is a testament to Vietnam’s pioneering role in stroke care, both in the region and globally. The event takes place in Hanoi from July 24 to 26, 2025.

Stroke remains not only a critical public health issue but also a massive socioeconomic challenge worldwide. It is currently the second leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability among adults globally. Statistics show approximately 12.2 million new stroke cases each year, with someone suffering a stroke every 3 seconds.

The consequences are severe: up to 71% of stroke survivors lose their ability to work, deeply affecting families and national productivity. Stroke-related healthcare costs are estimated to account for 1.12% of global GDP. In this context, continuously enhancing stroke care and advancing the specialty is essential to meet the growing societal demands in stroke treatment and prevention.

The GSA is a key strategic initiative of the WSO, with its core mission being to foster national-level and ministerial-level policy discussions to comprehensively improve stroke care systems. This year’s conference puts a special focus on acute stroke management and mechanical thrombectomy - one of the most effective treatments for large vessel occlusion strokes, with clear benefits in reducing both mortality and long-term disability. GSA 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for leading global experts in stroke and neurointerventional to share in-depth knowledge, present the latest scientific advances, and promote international collaboration.

The conference is expected to welcome around 300 delegates from over 15 countries across the region and the world, including: Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other Pacific Island nations - highlighting the truly international and influential nature of the event.

Attendees will include ministers and senior health officials, healthcare administrators, hospital directors, stroke specialists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventionists, emergency physicians, pre-hospital emergency staff, and rehabilitation professionals.

Key Highlights of the Conference Include:

• National Roundtable Discussions: A core component of GSA 2025, where country groups - based on geographic and systemic similarities - will present national stroke care overviews, including stroke burden, risk factors, acute care realities, prevention strategies, rehabilitation, monitoring systems, current challenges, and areas requiring WHO support.
• Advanced Mechanical Thrombectomy Training Workshop: Designed specifically for neurointerventionists and vascular neurologists, this workshop includes expert lectures, live practice, and complex case discussions. Faculty includes world-leading experts from the USA, Canada, Australia, India, and Vietnam.
• Angels Awards Ceremony (Evening of July 24): Honoring hospitals, emergency centers, and individuals who have met benchmarks in stroke care delivery and helped expand access to high-quality emergency stroke treatment.
• Bach Mai Hospital Receives Advanced Stroke Center Certification: During GSA 2025, WSO will officially certify Bach Mai Hospital as an Advanced Stroke Center - the first in Vietnam and the first in Southeast Asia under the WSO’s new, more rigorous platform. This marks a major milestone in Vietnam’s journey to standardize and elevate stroke care.
• Spirit of Excellence Award: Angels presents the “Spirit of Excellence Award” to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Duy Ton, Chairman of the Hanoi Stroke Association, recognizing his outstanding contributions to stroke care. He is one of only eight recipients globally, with just one honoree per country.

GSA 2025 will feature three parallel thematic workshops focused on critical stroke care areas: Acute Management, Prevention, and Rehabilitation

The conference is also a unique opportunity to explore the application of scientific and technological advancements in neurointervention to enhance patient outcomes. More than just a forum for discussion, GSA 2025 aims to spark concrete actions and policies that elevate stroke care standards globally. The organizing committee believes GSA 2025 will be a pivotal event, inspiring shifts in stroke care models and health policies, reducing the burden of stroke, and improving survival and quality of life for millions of patients around the world.

About the Angels Initiative

The Angels Initiative is a non-profit program and global healthcare intervention dedicated to improving stroke patients’ chances of survival and achieving a life free of disability. The Angels Initiative shares the World Stroke Organization’s vision: to make every hospital stroke-ready through clinical excellence, quality monitoring, and interdisciplinary teamwork.  As of July 2025, nearly 25 million patients have been treated in over 9,400 Angels hospitals across 160 countries. 

In Vietnam, the Angels Initiative has partnered with more than 130 hospitals, helping build stroke-ready protocols, enhance emergency workflows, participate in the RES-Q registry, and continuously improve quality of care - ultimately saving thousands of lives.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum