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Global Strategies for Cardiovascular Health: Enhancing Action Plans and Partnerships

SpeakerS:

Alice Park, Senior Health Correspondent, TIME
Dr. Thomas Gaziano, Chair, Science Committee, Harvard University – Brigham & Womens’ Hospital / World Heart Federation
Dr. Jenelle Krishnamoorthy, Vice President, Head
of Global Public Policy, Corporate Affairs, Merck
The Hon. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health, Republic of Indonesia

With Lead Programming Partner

“Heart disease has been the leading killer globally for more than three decades now, and it accounts for a third, or 33% of deaths annually.” Alice Park
“If we can get to them in prevention—right now, we have over 70% of individuals that are unable to control their cholesterol levels—so that is more and more leading to cardiac arrest and the issues that they do have to deal with.” Dr. Jenelle Krishnamoorthy
“In low- and middle-income countries, we've seen either static or increasing rates of cardiovascular disease, and that's largely due to the lack of access to basic prevention and treatments.” Dr. Tom Gaziano
“Indonesia produces babies a lot—4.8 million, more than America. It's like the size of Singapore, so one Singapore every year. Out of the 4.8 million babies, one for every 100 have congenital heart disease—48,000.” The Honorable Budi Gunadi Sadikin

Key takeaways:

  • Urgent need for comprehensive, country-specific Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) action plans: There is a critical need for each country, facing varying trends and resource limitations, to develop and implement tailored national CVD action plans to address unique challenges, infrastructure, and healthcare needs. 
  • Importance of prevention and early intervention: Focus on prevention strategies, including primary prevention, public health measures and treating individuals with risk factors, is essential to reduce CVD burden and healthcare costs. 
  • Leveraging technology for healthcare delivery: Utilizing technology, such as mobile health applications and remote monitoring devices, can enhance patient engagement and enable healthcare management outside traditional clinical settings, requiring investment in broadband infrastructure.
  • Addressing healthcare workforce shortages: A significant challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is the shortage of trained healthcare professionals, including cardiologists and specialized surgeons. Empowering nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers can mitigate this issue and expand access to care. 
  • Impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable diseases: The pandemic shifted resources and attention away from non-communicable diseases like CVD. There is an urgent need to refocus efforts on these diseases, and ensure that attention and funding are appropriately directed to tackle the CVD burden. 
  • Political will and funding are crucial: Strong political commitment and adequate funding are crucial for the successful implementation of CVD action plans, alongside establishing monitoring systems to track progress, ensure accountability, and make necessary adjustments to strategies. 

Action items:

  • Develop and implement national CVD action plans: Countries should create comprehensive action plans that address specific cardiovascular health needs, including acute care and prevention strategies
  • Invest in healthcare infrastructure and workforce training: Increase investments in healthcare infrastructure and the training of healthcare professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers, to improve access and management of CVD. 
  • Promote preventive healthcare measures: Implement and support preventive healthcare programs focusing on early screening, diagnosis, and management of risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol, along with public health campaigns for healthier lifestyles. 
  • Utilize technology to enhance healthcare delivery: Invest in and adopt technological solutions like telemedicine, mobile health applications, and remote monitoring devices to improve patient engagement and care delivery, especially in underserved and remote areas.
  • Set measurable targets and establish monitoring systems: Define achievable targets for CVD outcomes and implement robust monitoring systems to track progress, ensuring accountability and guiding policy adjustments. 
  • Strengthen global partnerships and collaborations: Foster collaboration between governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to share resources and innovations in cardiovascular health. 
  • Refocus on non-communicable diseases post-pandemic: Redirect attention and resources to address unmet needs in CVD care that were exacerbated during the pandemic, ensuring that non-communicable diseases remain a priority in public health agendas.

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