Calling for a comprehensive EU policy response to improve the cardiovascular health of European citizens

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EACH Plan for Cardiovascular Health Launched

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) revealed its Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Plan for Europe during a high-level policy meeting on May 16, 2022.

The plan will reduce premature and preventable deaths in Europe and improve access to high-quality cardiovascular risk assessment and multidisciplinary care pathways for all, paving the way to a better quality of life.

To achieve this, the focus is on primary prevention at the population level, improvements in secondary prevention, equal access to high-quality, patient-centred healthcare, and an increase in rehabilitation. The EACH CVH plan will have a trickle-down effect with the creation of national CVH plans that are tailored to national contexts and needs.

The time to act is now. The evidence is clear – the unbearable burden of cardiovascular disease on patients, people, health systems, and society in Europe will only increase unless we do not channel enormous political will, leadership, expertise, and imagination and create a different landscape for cardiovascular health in Europe.

The event, supported by the MEP Heart Group, was attended by high-level EU decision-makers, including the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides.

Read the Plan
Read the Press Release

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health stands in solidarity with Ukraine and calls for continuity of care and protection of the most vulnerable.

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health adds its voice to that of its partners in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We are deeply saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and call to the parties involved in the war for an immediate cessation of all hostilities and a peaceful resolution.

We are extremely concerned about the violence against health facilities and the disruption of access to vital care and life-saving medications. In this tragic and worrying context, we urge the protection of vital infrastructure, the support of health facilities with medicines and equipment, the protection of medical staff, and the support of civilians with vital needs in Ukraine as well as refugees fleeing the war.

The EACH calls for ensuring that humanitarian and medical aid can reach those who need it, regardless of their allegiance.

EACH is pleased to see that its partners are already providing aid and support through humanitarian organisations and National Civil Protection Authorities and directly to (cardiovascular) medical societies and patient organisations. We encourage further support for relief organisations and call on the international community at large to protect the most vulnerable and do whatever they can to avoid escalation of this tragic war.

EACH welcomes the EU Roadmap on NCDs initiative

The European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health welcomes the ambitious initiative of the European Commission to support Member States in the fight against the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, their causes and consequences, and to address health determinants more generally.

A future EU Action Plan on cardiovascular disease should include ambitious measures for the entire disease pathway (prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and quality of life) to keep European citizens in good health and optimise their quality of life, as well as reduce the socioeconomic burden of the disease.

EACH remains committed to contributing to the development and implementation of this EU Roadmap for NCDs to strengthen population and health system resilience by improving cardiovascular health, preventing first and subsequent cardiovascular events including heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery occlusion, optimising treatment and supporting a healthier and more productive European society.