Neurologists and rehabilitation experts in New Delhi are calling for the urgent integration of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) into India’s stroke care protocols. The push comes as stroke stands as the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in the country.
Dr. Man Mohan Mehndiratta on Post-Stroke Recovery
Experts emphasize that rehabilitation within the first 90 days is vital for achieving full functional recovery rather than mere survival. According to Dr. Man Mohan Mehndiratta, Principal-Director and Senior Consultant of Neurology at the BLK-Max Centre for Neurosciences, post-stroke recovery remains poorly structured despite improvements in emergency response. Without targeted rehabilitation, patients may survive but lose their independence, speech, or memory,
Dr. Mehndiratta stated.
India Hypertension Control Initiative Data on Urban Centres
Rising rates of hypertension, chronic stress, and sedentary lifestyles are increasingly driving stroke cases among younger individuals in urban centres like Delhi. Data from the India Hypertension Control Initiative indicates that one in four Indian adults has hypertension, with only 12 percent maintaining it under control.
Specialists advocate for the wider adoption of PMR, a multidisciplinary medical specialty that incorporates robotic-assisted therapy, speech and occupational therapy, cognitive retraining, and psychological support under a structured, evidence-based roadmap. Dr. Munim Tomar, Lead Consultant for PMR at HealthCare atHOME (HCAH), noted that brain plasticity peaks in the initial three months following a stroke, warning that every day of delay narrows the recovery window.
HCAH Survey on Stroke Symptoms and Inpatient Rehabilitation
A recent HCAH survey revealed that only 40 percent of respondents could identify stroke symptoms prior to hospitalization. However, among patients who underwent structured inpatient rehabilitation, 92 percent recovered core functional abilities within three months, whereas 70 percent of individuals on unstructured home care required over four months to regain basic functions.
Medical professionals are urging national and state health authorities to embed PMR into all stroke treatment protocols, expand insurance coverage for inpatient rehabilitation, train additional specialists, and establish dedicated neuro-rehabilitation centres across both public and private healthcare systems.
