China to set up stroke screening network
Shanghai. April 21. INTERFAX-CHINA - China plans to establish a nationwide network of 200 to 300 stroke screening centers in selected hospitals within the next three to five years, the official Ministry of Health (MoH) newspaper reported April 20.
The centers are expected to screen at least 1 million high-risk cases over the next three years, according to the Jiankang Bao, citing Minister of Health Chen Zhu's comments at an April 19 meeting to discuss the prevention of strokes.
The ministry also plans to give approximately 3,000 doctors special training in stroke screening and prevention, the newspaper said.
China's stroke incidence is growing at annual rate of about 8.7 percent. The country spends approximately RMB 12 billion ($1.84 billion) per year on medical costs associated with strokes, according to official figures.
- MS