Focussing on prevention, innovation, telemedicine, and equity
On 3-4 July 2024, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU convened a landmark High-Level Ministerial Conference in Budapest, in collaboration with the ESC.
This pivotal event brought together health ministers from several Member States (including Hungary, Poland, Spain, Malta, Ireland, and Romania), WHO Europe, leading experts, patient representatives, and members of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH).
A key highlight was the presentation of the Concept paper on Cardiovascular Health, which sets out a strategic vision for a European Cardiovascular Health Plan and national action plans.
The paper calls for stronger prevention strategies, investment in innovation, and improved data collection to reverse stalled progress in reducing CVD mortality and morbidity.
Discussions highlighted the urgent need to:
- Scale up preventive measures and regular screenings.
- Address heart failure, now a greater challenge than heart attacks.
- Expand telemedicine and remote monitoring for better patient outcomes.
- Integrate diabetes management and strengthen data-driven health systems.
- Promote innovation and affordability in cardiovascular treatments.
- Shift towards holistic, patient-centered care models for rehabilitation.
The ministerial panel reinforced the necessity of an EU-level action plan, tackling societal and commercial determinants of health and ensuring equitable access to care. The event also highlighted the economic burden of CVD (€282 billion annually), as emphasised in the results of a 2023 study published in the European Heart Journal, and gender disparities, with 40% of female deaths linked to cardiovascular disease.
This conference marked a historic step forward, weaving expert insights into EU-level political discourse and paving the way for the drafting of Council Conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the EU, which were adopted by the 27 EU Member States later that year. It reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to making cardiovascular health a priority, fostering partnerships across sectors, and driving innovation to save lives and strengthen health systems.
More information related to the high-level conference can be found in the 2024 July edition of the ESC Advocacy Bulletin, available here, or here on the official website of the Hungarian Council Presidency of the EU.