New figures show almost 1 million Australians will be living with the impact of stroke by 2050.
The National Stroke Foundation said without a significant increase in funding, families, the community and the healthcare system would not be able to cope.
“We are already in the middle of a public health emergency, let alone such a massive increase in people having a stroke,” Stroke Foundation chief executive Erin Lalor said.
“Because the numbers will be increasing to over 130,000 strokes by 2050, it will continue to put demands on the system and will see more and more people not able to access care in hospitals and important support in the community, which even today isn’t available,” Dr Lalor said.
New analysis showed the number of people having a stroke in Australia would rise from 50,000 a year to more than 130,000.
The figures revealed the increase was primarily due to Australia’s ageing population and lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.
The National Stroke Foundation has called on the Federal Government to boost funding by $75 million over four years.
“It’s important to ensure that when people go home from hospital after having a stroke, they are supported in adapting to life often with a disability,” Dr Lalor said.
“In Australia, unlike many other countries there is no support system for people with a stroke.”
There are only a small number of dedicated stroke units across Australia, despite the fact patients do much better when treated in a dedicated unit.
Experts said the lack of services was unacceptable and the new figures showed the situation was set to worsen.
While stroke was recognised as a national health priority area in 1996, no dedicated federal funding had been allocated to prevent or treat the illness, experts warned.
“The Federal Government must fund proven, national action on stroke to reduce the unnecessary burden on our community,” Dr Lalor said.
Currently, four out of 10 stroke patients cannot access the best practice care for strokes.