By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : April 10, 2026 8:14 am
Experts also underscored the growing role of technologies such as tele-neurorehabilitation, robotics, and AI-driven therapies in improving recovery outcomes
With stroke cases rising across India, neurologists and rehabilitation specialists have called for urgent insurance coverage of post-stroke rehabilitation, warning that families face severe financial and emotional stress despite better survival rates.
The issue was highlighted at IFNRCON 2026 and the 2nd International Tele-Neuro Rehabilitation Conference in Mumbai, where experts said recovery after stroke requires long-term therapy for mobility, speech and independence, but these services remain largely excluded from insurance policies.
Dr. Nirmal Surya, President, Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation, said India records over 1.25 million new stroke cases annually, yet access to rehabilitation remains limited, especially in rural areas. “Recovery does not end at hospital discharge. Long-term neurorehabilitation is essential, but the high cost and lack of insurance cover place a huge burden on families,” he said.
Experts also stressed that technologies such as tele-neurorehabilitation, robotics and AI-driven therapies can improve recovery outcomes, but affordability and wider access remain key challenges.
The conference also saw the launch of a White Paper on Neurorehabilitation, strengthening calls for policy reform to make rehabilitation an integral part of insured stroke care.