Stroke Treatment and the Need for a National Strategy

Recent studies and expert opinions suggest that in an ultra-aged society, brain diseases are no longer just individual concerns but are emerging as key healthcare challenges that the entire nation must address together. There's a growing call for not only advancements in treatment technology but also for ensuring accessibility to treatment and establishing essential healthcare systems.

Brain Health for All

This year's World Brain Day theme is 'Brain Health for All'. This encapsulates the global community's shared message that everyone should have access to neurological disease treatment, regardless of their place of residence or socio-economic conditions. Neurological conditions like stroke, dementia, and Parkinson's disease are no longer individual problems but are recognized as challenges that require national-level solutions.

The Importance of Dementia and Stroke Treatment

Dementia is a major brain disease with 10 million new cases annually, and its patient numbers continue to rise in Korea with the aging population. Professor Kim Hee-jin from Hanyang University Hospital's Neurology Department emphasizes early diagnosis and safe treatment as crucial for dementia care, highlighting the importance of preserving patient dignity and protecting families' daily lives.

• Maintaining the daily living abilities of dementia patients
• Developing programs to alleviate caregiver burden

Furthermore, there are calls for improving systems for stroke patient treatment. Stroke, an essential severe emergency condition, includes ischemic stroke caused by blocked blood vessels and hemorrhagic stroke from ruptured vessels. Professor Kim Tae-jung from Seoul National University Hospital's Neurology Department warns that approximately 2 million brain cells can be damaged every minute during an ischemic stroke, stating that prompt treatment significantly impacts patient survival and long-term disability.

Improving the Healthcare System

Currently, Korean emergency rooms face difficulties in admitting patients due to a shortage of neurologists and stroke specialists. The Korean Stroke Society proposes the placement of dedicated neurological emergency physicians, centered around Regional Emergency Medical Centers. Having neurologists make initial diagnostic and treatment decisions, and enabling real-time communication with 119 and other medical institutions, would allow for faster identification of treatable hospitals.

• Initial diagnosis and treatment decisions by neurological specialists
• Real-time communication between emergency rooms and other medical institutions

The Necessity of Home-Based Healthcare

Additionally, home-based healthcare is proposed as a solution to the caregiving burden faced by patients with severe degenerative and motor neuron diseases in their homes. The Korean Neurological Association stresses the importance of the transition period after hospital discharge as a 'golden time,' where hospital-based multidisciplinary teams should intervene intensively to establish robust home care systems.

For such shared care models to be properly established in clinical practice, the reimbursement system needs to be realistic. The current fragmented fee-for-service system cannot cover the opportunity costs of travel and the labor costs of multidisciplinary teams.

In conclusion, the various issues surrounding stroke treatment are not merely individual problems but significant challenges that the nation must tackle together. We hope these issues will be resolved, and we look forward to a society where everyone can achieve healthy brain function.