Organized by the World Stroke Organization (WSO) in collaboration with Bach Mai Hospital, the Hanoi Stroke Association, and the Angels Initiative, the conference reflects Vietnam’s growing influence in the regional stroke landscape.
With sessions held from July 24 to 26 at the Intercontinental Landmark 72 Hotel and Bach Mai Hospital, the event brings a sharp focus to improving systems of care for stroke, a condition responsible for millions of deaths and disabilities globally each year.
The event take place in Hanoi from July 24 to 26, 2025.
Despite growing awareness and medical advances, stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide and the primary cause of long-term disability in adults.
Data from the World Stroke Organization show approximately 12.2 million new stroke cases occur each year—equivalent to one every three seconds. Beyond the toll on individuals and families, the economic burden is considerable, with stroke-related costs estimated to account for over 1.1% of global GDP.
Experts at GSA 2025 are calling for coordinated national strategies, improved emergency systems, and greater access to effective interventions—particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of stroke deaths occur.
This year’s conference centers on acute stroke management and mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure that has shown significant efficacy in reducing death and long-term disability in patients with large vessel occlusion strokes.
Sessions are designed to facilitate deep clinical exchange as well as policy dialogue, with the participation of ministers, hospital leaders, and stroke network coordinators from across Asia and the Pacific.
Approximately 300 delegates representing more than 15 countries are attending the event. Their presence underlines the urgency of collaborative approaches to strengthening stroke care infrastructure at both national and regional levels.
Stroke remains not only a critical public health issue but also a massive socioeconomic challenge worldwide.
Over the past decade, Vietnam has invested in building more stroke-ready hospitals, training emergency staff, and introducing quality monitoring systems. A major catalyst in this transformation has been the Angels Initiative—a global non-profit partnership that supports hospitals in developing efficient stroke protocols and improving patient outcomes.
To date, more than 130 hospitals in Vietnam have partnered with the Angels Initiative, with many taking part in the RES-Q registry, a quality improvement platform for stroke care. Worldwide, the initiative has supported over 9,400 hospitals in 160 countries, with nearly 25 million patients treated as of mid-2025.
As stroke incidence continues to rise in aging populations and urbanizing societies, experts stress the need to look beyond hospital walls. Discussions at GSA 2025 include improving pre-hospital care, public awareness, and post-stroke rehabilitation—components essential to a holistic stroke response. Vietnam’s hosting of the GSA 2025 not only showcases its progress in stroke care but also signals a broader regional ambition: to build more resilient health systems that are better prepared to handle the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
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.
