ICMR hands over 2 mobile stroke units to Assam

In a major boost to emergency healthcare in rural and remote regions, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday handed over two Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) to the Government of Assam, formally transferring a pioneering stroke care initiative that has been operational in the state since 2021 .

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and long-term disability in India, with delays in reaching stroke-ready hospitals often proving fatal. To address this challenge, ICMR launched the MSU project in Assam as a pilot in 2021, aiming to deliver advanced stroke diagnosis and treatment directly at patients’ homes in difficult and hard-to-reach areas of the Northeast.

The Mobile Stroke Units function as fully equipped hospitals on wheels , fitted with CT scanners, telemedicine facilities for real-time consultation with neurologists, point-of-care laboratories and clot-busting drugs. This allows rapid identification of stroke type and initiation of treatment within the critical ‘golden hour’, significantly improving survival and recovery chances.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, said that while Mobile Stroke Units were first developed in Germany and later deployed in major global cities, India has successfully evaluated and implemented the model in rural, remote and difficult terrain . He noted that India has become the second country globally to report successful integration of MSUs with emergency medical services for treating rural acute ischemic stroke patients.

Data from the Assam pilot highlight its impact. Since 2021, the two MSUs have helped reduce treatment time from nearly 24 hours to about two hours , cut stroke-related deaths by one-third , and lower disability by eightfold . Between 2021 and August 2024, the units received over 2,300 emergency calls , screened 294 suspected stroke cases , and treated nearly 90 per cent of patients at their homes . Integration with the 108 emergency ambulance service expanded coverage to a 100 km radius .

Assam Health Secretary and Commissioner P. Ashok Babu said the handover would strengthen the state’s emergency response system and ensure continuity of the life-saving service under state ownership. He added that the collaboration with ICMR has improved coordination and outcomes, while providing a strong foundation for future expansion.

The initiative is particularly significant for the Northeast, which faces a high stroke burden due to challenging geography, long travel times and limited access to specialists. By embedding the MSUs into a wider pre-hospital stroke care network linked to medical colleges in Dibrugarh and Tezpur, the project has demonstrated how advanced healthcare can reach underserved populations.

Health experts view Assam’s experience as a potential model for other states with large rural populations, even as no nationwide rollout has yet been announced. The handover marks the transition of the MSU project from a pilot phase to a sustainable, government-owned public health service , setting a new benchmark for rural emergency stroke care in India.