ACTION PLAN FOR STROKE IN GREECE: BASIC TARGETS

Abstract

The European Stroke Action Plan (ESAP) for the years 2018 to 2030 was prepared by the European Stroke
Organisation (ESO) in collaboration with the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE). The Hellenic Alliance-Action
for Stroke (national member of SAFE) together with the Hellenic Neurological Society and the Hellenic
Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases are currently working together to prepare the Stroke Action Plan for
Greece based on ESAP basic targets. Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in
Europe, and projections show that despite all efforts the burden of stroke will not decrease in the next
decade. Recent epidemiological data from Greece (Evros Stroke Registry) show a very high stroke rate of
about 587 new stroke incidents per 100000 inhabitants/year in Greece.
The ESAP has identified four overarching targets for 2030: (1) to reduce the absolute number of strokes
in Europe by 10%, (2) to treat 90% or more of all patients with stroke in Europe in a dedicated stroke unit
as the first level of care, (3) to have national plans for stroke encompassing the entire chain of care, (4) to
fully implement national strategies for multisector public health interventions, related to prevention and
treatment.
Despite the significant progress to-date while there is a substantial increase in the number of patients
that receive acute treatment (almost all neurology clinics that offer full specialization provide this capability
and the same holds for a small number of other clinics in Athens as well as in the rest of the country, there
are significant problems especially for the development of stroke units and for the issue of rehabilitation).
Consequently, assessment of the specific aspects of the Stroke Action Plan in Greece resulted in 7 axes or
priorities: 1. Organization of stroke units in every hospital that treats stroke in the standard of the coronary
care unit 2. Personnel training and action plan 3. Public awareness 4. National strategy for prevention.
5. Secondary Prevention and Patient Monitoring Measures 6. Development of a plan and algorithm for
Rehabilitation. 7 Creation of a national database and registry. First steps are proposed for each of these
axes and the health authorities and other scientific bodies are invited for cooperation.
The need for a National Plan for the treatment of Stroke is imperative for Greece. The priorities mentioned
above are in line with the European Action Plan and summarize the key actions specific to the Greek reality