EFPIA and Vaccines Europe welcome the Safe Hearts Plan as a timely and important step to improve cardiovascular health in Europe. With one in three deaths in the EU linked to cardiovascular disease and 13 million new diagnoses each year, swift implementation of the Plan is now essential. 

“We in particular welcome the proposal for a Council Recommendation on health checks, which provides an opportunity to step up early detection of cardiovascular disease across Member States which is of crucial importance to prevent ill-health, improve population health outcomes and save costs for health systems and societies. They should include screening for a comprehensive range of cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity and diabetes which are both major modifiable risk factors for CVDs,” said Nathalie Moll, Director General of EFPIA. 

The Plan has significant potential to ensure access to equitable, effective and people-centred care for patients at risk. We are pleased to see that EU guidance will also cover personalised treatment and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, helping to close existing gaps in the continuum of care, including through improved adherence to treatment. 

Vaccines Europe welcomes the Plan’s recognition of the link between cardiovascular disease and respiratory infections, and the inclusion of immunisation as a core pillar of prevention. In particular, the Council Recommendation to update and strengthen vaccination targets against major respiratory diseases represents a decisive step towards closing longstanding prevention gaps and ensuring consistent implementation across Europe. 

“The  Safe Hearts Plan is a unique opportunity to build a strong foundation for sustainable prevention measures. By including immunisation from the outset, we can protect people’s health, support resilient health systems, and strengthen Europe’s preparedness and health security,” said Sibilia Quilici, Executive Director of Vaccines Europe. 

For the Plan to be successful, it must be implemented in close collaboration with all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare professionals, scientific societies and industry. EFPIA, Vaccines Europe and their members are committed to being constructive partners in this process and to helping transform cardiovascular health in Europe.