History was made in Kathmandu this August. On 16–17 August 2025, more than 500 participants – including world-renowned stroke experts, national health leaders, and frontline clinicians – gathered for the first-ever International Stroke Conference in Nepal: the Himalayan International Stroke Summit (HISS).
The atmosphere was electric. For two days, The Soaltee buzzed with scientific exchange, inspiring speeches, hands-on workshops, and, above all, a sense of collective achievement. This was more than a conference – it was a celebration of how far Nepal has come in strengthening stroke care, and a bold step toward the future.
With the Health Minister and senior officials present, stroke has firmly entered Nepal’s health agenda. The launch of the Nepal Stroke Protocol marks the beginning of a national framework for stroke care.
At the heart of this success stood the Nepal Stroke Association (NSA).
The program was as diverse as it was dynamic: plenary lectures by global leaders, lively debates, practical workshops on interventions like thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and a gala dinner that doubled as a networking hub.
International key note speakers such as Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian (President of the World Stroke Organization), Prof. Craig Anderson (Australia), Prof. Anna Ranta (New Zealand), and Prof. David Liebeskind (USA) joined forces with Nepal’s brightest neurologists and neurosurgeons. Together, they charted pathways for better acute care, rehabilitation, and health system design in resource-limited settings.
Most importantly, the Summit was proudly organized and led by the Nepal Stroke Association. Under the leadership of Dr. Raju Paudel (President, NSA) and Dr. Lekhjung Thapa (Founder President, NSA), the conference showed that Nepal is not just a recipient of global knowledge, but an active contributor to the global fight against stroke
he Summit has created unstoppable momentum. In the coming months, the NSA will focus on rolling out the new guidelines, strengthening stroke units, expanding registries, and embedding stroke care into national NCD strategies. Telemedicine and continued capacity-building will play key roles.
As Dr. Raju Paudel emphasized: “This is just the beginning. The Nepal Stroke Association is committed to making stroke care accessible, equitable, and of the highest quality across the country.”
The Himalayan International Stroke Summit 2025 was more than an academic meeting—it was a declaration of Nepal’s leadership in stroke care. By bringing the world to Kathmandu, the Nepal Stroke Association has shown what dedicated clinicians, researchers, and policymakers can achieve when they work hand in hand.
The question is no longer whether Nepal can improve stroke care. The question is how far and how fast we can go from here.
And with the NSA leading the way, the future looks brighter than ever.
