Várhelyi reveals EU cardiovascular health plan will be called the ‘Safe Hearts Plan’
The EU will call its cardiovascular strategy the ‘Safe Hearts Plan’ and will focus on prevention
Speaking at the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) Summit, Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi announced that the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan will be called the ‘Safe Hearts Plan’.
The initiative is expected to be presented on Tuesday, 16 December, following the College meeting in Strasbourg. It forms part of a trio of upcoming health announcements, alongside Biotech Act I and a targeted simplification of EU rules for medical devices and in vitro diagnostics.
Várhelyi said the EU is “in the final stage of approvals” for the new cardiovascular strategy, describing it as “a very robust” plan centred on prevention. “Most cardiovascular deaths can and should be prevented,” he stressed.
He added that the plan will "bring much faster and more personal treatment to patients" and make personalized care "mainstream". Diet, “especially ultra-processed food consumption”, was highlighted as a major risk factor. The Commission, he said, wants "a full debate" on the issue, together with clear guidance and tools to help people to "limit their own personal risks much faster than with any previous EU public health policy".
MEP Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia), selected by the Public Health Committee as rapporteur and Chair of the Parliament’s Cardiovascular Health Group, agreed on the central role of prevention. “It is not only about health literacy, but early detection,” adding that industry influence on individuals’ health must be addressed.
MEPs Elena Nevado del Campo (EPP, Spain) and Maria Walsh (EPP, Ireland) stressed the persistent inequalities between men and women. Nevado del Campo pointed out that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in Spain and called for stronger female representation in research, something she said affects diagnosis, treatment pathways and ultimately health outcomes.
The upcoming ‘Safe Hearts Plan’ aims to tackle Europe’s biggest killer; however, it is likely to encounter strong pushback from parts of Brussels' powerful food and drink industry, which will be unwilling to accept tighter controls on the products that fuel cardiovascular risk.