Responding to research studies suggesting that the presence of stroke units in hospitals reduce deaths and improve the care of stroke patients, AKUH started a new stroke unit in September 2001 as part of a comprehensive stroke programme for providing timely care to stroke patients.

The facility aims to provide up-to-date neurological care and treatment at par with international standards. The Stroke Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, and medical and nursing staff with special training to cope with stroke-related emergencies. Dedicated stroke clinics and a systematic stroke rehabilitation programme are also being introduced as part of the hospital-wide stroke initiative.

A stroke patient inaugurating the new five-bed stroke unit at AKUH. The Unit is part of a comprehensive stroke programme for providing timely care to stroke patients.

AKUH Stroke Unit was the result of a proposal from the Medical Director's office, spearheaded by Khurshid Khowaja, Director of Nursing Services, and Dr. Nadir Ali Syed, Consultant Neurologist. Dr. Saad Shafqat, Consultant Neurologist, is the physician-in-charge of the Stroke Unit. A landmark achievement for AKUH, the Stroke Unit will contribute towards uplifting the standard of tertiary care provided to stroke patients in Karachi.

An important focus of the Unit's activities will be medical research into the diagnosis, treatment and long-term outlook associated with stroke. Stroke is common throughout the world, but very little is known about the nature of stroke in Pakistan.

A meticulous database of all AKUH stroke inpatients is being maintained which will be intermittently analysed to advance the knowledge of this condition. In addition, a research study on stroke recovery has been initiated in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, USA, which will investigate ways to enhance functional recovery following stroke in the population in Pakistan.

Worldwide, stroke is recognised as the second commonest cause of death and the leading cause of physical disability. In Pakistan, stroke is the primary reason for admission to a neurology ward. Based on a national health survey, there are between one to four million stroke victims in Pakistan.