Karnataka Adopts Hub-and-Spoke Model for Stroke and Head Injury Care on World Brain Health Day

Quick Summary

• NIMHANS and the Karnataka government have developed a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model for stroke and head injury care.
• The apex hub at NIMHANS will provide advanced care and guide spoke centres in six government medical colleges across Karnataka.
• stroke is caused by a disruption in blood supply to the brain, which can result in disabilities or death if untreated. Early treatment within the “golden hour” (4-6 hours) is critical for better outcomes.
• Spoke centres will be established in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, raichur, ballari, and other locations with an allocation of ₹56 crore for infrastructure development.
• A Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) machine is being installed at KMCRI Hubballi. this machine assists stroke management by identifying blood vessel issues causing strokes.
• In collaboration with KaBHI (Karnataka’s Brain Health Initiative), trained healthcare providers aim to improve early identification of neurological disorders such as epilepsy and headache in rural areas.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The initiative to develop a hub-and-spoke model for timely stroke and head injury care across Karnataka marks important progress toward improving accessibility to specialized healthcare services. By decentralizing advanced neurology care through spoke centres tied closely to district medical colleges, this model has the potential to reduce pressure on NIMHANS while together facilitating faster diagnosis during critical time windows like the golden hour.

the inclusion of state funding towards equipment upgrades-such as DSA machines-represents a foundational step toward achieving improved health outcomes across both urban centers and underserved rural areas. Furthermore, grassroots training programs under initiatives like KaBHI could further bridge gaps between primary healthcare providers and specialized medical interventions.If prosperous, this decentralized system may set an example that could be replicated nationwide to address growing demands for timely neurological care.

Published july 21, 2025 – Source: The Hindu