The updated Stroke Action Plan for Europe (SAP-E), a joint initiative of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) and the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), has been published in the European Stroke Journal.
The updated Plan:
- Highlights both progress achieved and persistent gaps in stroke prevention, emergency care, rehabilitation and life after stroke across Europe;
- Presents data collected from European countries through the Stroke Service Tracker;
- Sets out a clear roadmap with actionable targets and measurable benchmarks to reduce the burden of stroke by 2030;
- Serves as a call to action, stressing that every European country should have a funded and fully implemented national stroke strategy.
Key messages
Implementation of the Stroke Action Plan for Europe (2018–2030) began in 2019. This mid-term update reflects current challenges for stroke care in Europe in 2025 and incorporates the latest available evidence.
Despite improvements in stroke care, stroke remains a major health challenge in Europe, with significant incidence and persistent inequalities in access to care. Gaps remain across the care pathway, particularly in access to stroke units, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up.
To effectively reduce the burden of stroke, the Plan identifies four priority action areas:
- National stroke plans covering the entire chain of care and integrated into reimbursement systems;
- Quality and outcome monitoring at both individual and health-system level;
- Robust and resilient healthcare organisation ensuring equitable, timely and evidence-based stroke care;
- Effective national strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and control stroke risk factors.
