Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 14 (PTI) Healthcare professionals should look beyond medical technology and address the financial burden of stroke treatment on patients and their families, Surgeon Vice Admiral Shankar Subramanian, Director General Medical Services (Navy), has said.
Inaugurating the Asian Stroke Summer School 2026 here on Friday evening, he shared his family’s experience of setting up a home-based ICU for his late father-in-law due to the prohibitive cost of hospital care.
He called for greater empathy towards treatment expenses and advocated hybrid online consultations, decentralised diagnostic facilities and affordable home-care models.
The international training programme is jointly organised by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) and Stroke Research Centre Bern, Switzerland, with support from the World Health Organisation, according to a statement.
Former state Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson stressed that prevention remained the most effective way to combat stroke, urging people to walk regularly, control blood pressure and diabetes, avoid tobacco and maintain healthy sleep habits.
Dr Urs Fischer of University Hospital Bern spoke about the programme’s expansion since its launch in Europe in 2014 to Asia and Latin America, focusing on strengthening stroke care in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr Jan Gralla of Inselspital Bern highlighted the importance of coordination among medical specialists and training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
American actor Leland Orser shared how timely medical intervention helped his 87-year-old mother recover within 24 hours after a severe stroke, enabling her to enjoy another 18 months of quality life, the statement added. PTI LGK ADB
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.