European Life After Stroke Forum – A European conference on Life After Stroke in Prague – Because acute care is only the beginning
On March 10-11, 2025, Prague will host a major pan-European conference, the European Life After Stroke Forum, marking the first time this event has taken place in a Central or Eastern European country.
The event is organised by Stroke Alliance For Europe (SAFE), a Brussels-based nonprofit established in 2004, bringing together 36 organisations from 30 European countries. SAFE represents patient advocacy groups involved in supporting and caring for the more than 9 million people in Europe who have experienced a stroke.
This conference provides an opportunity for dialogue between professionals (doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech therapists and others) and the general public – stroke survivors, caregivers, policymakers, healthcare funders and other stakeholders. The event will showcase best practices and systemic improvements that can serve as inspiration for others and ultimately contribute to improving the lives of stroke survivors.
Among the leading experts attending the conference are Prof. Simona Sacco, President of the European Stroke Organization (ESO), Assoc. Prof. Nicola Hancock (UK) and many more. Representing the Czech Republic will be Assoc. Prof. MUDr. Aleš Tomek, Chair of the Cerebrovascular Section of the Czech Neurological Society and MUDr. Dagmar Součková, a member of the scientific committee for the conference. The event is also co-organized by Cerebrum, o.p.s., a Czech patient organisation supporting individuals with acquired brain injuries, which is a member of SAFE.
The conference will be held under the patronage of the Czech Minister of Health, Prof. MUDr. Vlastimil Válek, who will open the event.
Stroke in the Czech Republic: Progress and challenges
Every year, approximately 24,000 people in the Czech Republic experience a stroke. While stroke-related mortality has significantly decreased in recent decades – with the 90-day mortality rate now around 17% (ÚZIS) – challenges remain, particularly in post-stroke care.
Since the 2010, establishment of a well-functioning network of stroke centers, the Czech Republic has become one of the leaders in Europe for acute stroke care. It ranks highly in the number of patients receiving thrombolysis (a treatment that dissolves blood clots) and mechanical thrombectomy (a procedure to remove clots using a catheter in major brain arteries).
However, post-acute stroke care in the Czech Republic still has significant gaps that need to be addressed. The Czech Neurological Society, in collaboration with the Society for Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, has prepared a new decree on long-term care, aimed at improving access to rehabilitation and follow-up treatment in specialised stroke outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centers. This will enhance interdisciplinary collaboration among speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and other specialists involved in stroke care.
Assoc. Prof. Aleš Tomek will outline the objectives set by the Czech Ministry of Health, professional societies and patient organisations as part of the European Stroke Action Plan 2030. This includes efforts to improve treatment outcomes for patients with hemorrhagic strokes, where mortality remains high and to advance care for ischemic stroke survivors. He will also highlight the ongoing challenge of stroke awareness, emphasising that many people fail to recognise stroke symptoms and do not seek medical help in time.
However, the primary focus will be on life after stroke.
“It is time to improve secondary prevention to reduce the high rate of stroke recurrence. Acute care is just the beginning – we must also focus on enhancing patients’ lives after hospital discharge,” stated Ales Tomek.
Dr. Dagmar Souckova, Vice Chair of the Cerebrovascular Section of the Czech Neurological Society, added:
“After discharge from acute stroke care, we need to ensure structured follow-up by appropriate specialists in stroke outpatient clinics, along with multi-stage rehabilitation – whether inpatient or outpatient. Further, we must strengthen community programs and initiatives that facilitate patient reintegration into society, returning to active life, and improving employment opportunities. Stroke is not just a medical issue – it has serious social consequences, making it a broader societal challenge.”
The role of patient organisations
The Cerebrum organisation will also present its activities at the conference. As a nonprofit focused on supporting individuals with acquired brain injuries (including stroke, trauma and brain tumours), it operates a community center with the motto: “No one should have to face their illness alone.” Cerebrum is actively involved in awareness campaigns and offers advice to patients and caregivers.
Cerebrum also publishes educational materials for both stroke survivors and professionals. The latest publication, “A Guide to Group Speech Therapy”, developed in collaboration with the Icelandic patient organisation Heilaheill, was supported by the EEA and Norway Grants. The guide is available in both Czech and English and can be downloaded for free from www.cerebrum2007.cz/poradna.
Magdalena Pohnanova, Director of Cerebrum, emphasised the importance of patient organisations in healthcare:
“Patient organisations play an irreplaceable role in the healthcare system because healthcare is ultimately about the patients. Unfortunately, their significance is still underappreciated in the Czech Republic. I believe that thanks to SAFE and this conference in Prague, the value of patient organisations in the healthcare system will gain greater recognition.”
