The Stroke CARE (Coalition for Acute Stroke Response and Excellence) Meeting brings together global and local leaders from the World Stroke Organization (WSO), Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP), and Angels Initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim’s global healthcare program, driving excellence in stroke response and care nationwide.

In photo, from left to right: Krissy Avestro, Stroke Care Program Manager and Angels Initiative Lead; Dr. Maria Epifania Collantes, Board Member of World Stroke Organization and National Coordinator at Registry of Stroke Quality Care (RES-Q); Dr. Maria Socorro Florendo-Sarfati, Immediate Past President of Stroke Society of the Philippines (SSP); Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian, President of World Stroke Organization; Dr. Ma. Cristina Macrohon-Valdez, President of SSP; and Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine – Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines. These global and local leaders came together at the Stroke CARE Meeting to strengthen partnerships and drive unified action toward improving stroke care systems in the Philippines.

Regional stroke champions from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao engaged in the discussions to address the growing burden of stroke in the Philippines and bridge global standards with local solutions for better stroke care. Stroke remains a major public health concern in the Philippines, as the third leading cause of death and a major cause of long-term disability , with 34,464 fatalities from January to August 2024.

Professor Jeyaraj Pandian, President of World Stroke Organization, affirms WSO’s commitment to advancing stroke systems of care in the Philippines during the Stroke CARE Meeting. He highlighted the WSO Stroke Certification with the Angels Initiative, emphasized the importance of the Registry of Stroke Quality Care (RES-Q) in driving data-based improvements, and underscored the critical role of government support and community collaboration in building comprehensive, stroke-ready healthcare.

WSO President Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian reaffirmed the organization’s support for the Philippines, highlighting progress through the WSO Angels Certification Program and emphasizing the need for multisectoral collaboration, community awareness, and capacity-building across all levels of care. Key priorities discussed include the development of a unified national stroke strategy, improved access to timely treatment, adoption of data-driven tools like the Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES-Q), and expanded training for frontline health workers.

The Stroke CARE Meeting brings together stroke champions and key representatives from the World Stroke Organization, Stroke Society of the Philippines, and Angels Initiative–Boehringer Ingelheim’s global healthcare program for stroke. United by a shared goal, they work to strengthen stroke-ready hospitals and empower local healthcare systems with global best practices.

The Angels Initiative remains committed to advancing stroke care in the Philippines through strategic partnerships, continuous capacity-building, and a shared vision of a stroke-ready nation.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. Our approximately 54,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier and more sustainable tomorrow. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.