Milka Sokolović: JACARDI is a beacon of proactive change in Europe’s healthcare landscape

Promoting healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can greatly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, but the responsibility cannot fall solely on individuals. This is the approach championed by Milka Sokolović, Director General of EPHA, the European Public Health Alliance, and a member of JACARDI’s Stakeholder Advisory Board. Strong public health policies are crucial in ensuring access to healthy food options and encouraging physical activity. JACARDI plays a key role in driving these efforts, fostering cross-sector collaboration and advocating for policies that empower individuals to make healthier choices. At the same time, we must harness the power of civil society and advocate for stricter regulations on industries that harm health, including the tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed food sectors.

What does JACARDI mean to you and your organization in terms of its mission and values?

For EPHA and myself, JACARDI is a crucial initiative in combating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases in Europe. Its focus on prevention, disease management, and cross-sectoral collaboration aligns with EPHA’s values of health equity and evidence-based policy. JACARDI’s comprehensive approach addresses these conditions and considers the broader social and commercial determinants of health, enhancing our joint advocacy for sustainable public health policies in the EU.

Based on your experience in public health, what do you consider the main barriers to reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes in the EU, and how can these challenges be addressed?

Public health, particularly regarding non-communicable diseases like CVDs and diabetes, faces many challenges, including the influence of health-harming industries and varying public health policies across member states. To effectively counter these diseases we advocate for more stringent regulations on industries that negatively impact health, such as the tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food sectors. It is also vital to improve the coordination and integration of health policies across the EU for greater efficiency and uniformity.

Bridging the gap between political action and healthcare practice requires early stakeholder input in policy making. Leveraging the collective strength of civil society to advocate for these changes and prioritising public health in the political agenda is essential. JACARDI’s work addresses many of these critical areas.

In your experience, what are the most critical economic and political factors to consider when implementing health initiatives across different global settings?

Effectively addressing cardiovascular disease and diabetes requires understanding both economic and political contexts. Economically, resource availability and stable health financing are crucial for sustaining initiatives. Politically, long-term commitment from governments and stakeholders is necessary to implement robust health policies. Early engagement with policymakers ensures health initiatives align with regional and national priorities, improving their effectiveness.

The JACARDI model, emphasising cross-country and sector cooperation, including other joint actions like the JA PreventNCD, offers a blueprint for addressing these challenges. Through collaboration, JACARDI enhances the implementation of adaptable and resilient health strategies, serving as a framework for other global health initiatives.

What role do lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, play in the prevention and management of CVD and diabetes, and how can public health policies better support these changes?

Lifestyle changes are fundamental in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes. Encouraging healthy eating habits and regular physical activity can significantly reduce the incidence of these conditions, but it cannot rely solely on the individual. Public health policies play a key role by facilitating access to healthy food options and promoting physical activity through the creation of safe and accessible public spaces.

Integrating lifestyle interventions into national health policies can have a positive impact on public health. From JACARDI’s perspective, this is being addressed through initiatives that improve health literacy and encourage active participation from diverse populations. Furthermore, educational campaigns and programmes in schools and workplaces can motivate behavioural changes.

Finally, comprehensive policy approaches are crucial and it is essential that public policies tackle health misinformation and provide citizens with the necessary tools to assess the information that they are exposed to.

How do you see JACARDI’s role in addressing the growing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Europe?

JACARDI is a beacon of proactive change in Europe’s healthcare landscape. Its comprehensive approach to disease management and prevention addresses the rising prevalence of CVD and diabetes, focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management.

Beyond immediate health interventions, JACARDI integrates diverse healthcare approaches, ensuring inclusivity and adaptability for both urban and underserved populations. This ensures no one is left behind. Through these efforts, JACARDI strengthens European health systems’ ability to manage and prevent these diseases, promoting a healthier and more equitable future for all European citizens.

In a career that spans a quarter of a century and three countries, it was her unceasing quest for more impact and purpose in her work that brought Milka Sokolović to EPHA. As Director General, she instigates alliances and forges partnerships, while advocating for equitable solutions to European public health challenges, insisting on the vital role of civil society in reaching those solutions.

Milka Sokolović holds a degree in Biology from the University of Belgrade, and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Amsterdam. Through her research and academic roles at the Universities of Belgrade and Amsterdam, and her leadership roles at the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) and the European Nutrition Leadership Platform (ENLP), she has developed a remarkable expertise in scientific research, communication, and strategic partnerships.

Milka is skilled at developing and implementing organisational strategies, equipped with robust leadership competencies, and armed with ample enthusiasm, driven by Goethe’s “Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

Learn more about EPHA here and connect with Milka Sokolović here.

Silvia Ussai: JACARDI aims to fill the gaps in the management of NCDs

“This initiative is remarkable because, while many projects focus on non-communicable diseases, JACARDI prioritises policy integration”, says Silvia Ussai, a member of JACARDI’s Scientific Advisory Board. Drawing on over a decade of experience in shaping health policies across local, national, and international levels, and managing major programs like H2020, and NextGenEU, she underscores how JACARDI tackles critical gaps towards the reduction of major risk factors leading to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

What significance does JACARDI hold for you and your organization in terms of its mission and values?

JACARDI truly goes beyond the state of the art in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It is a transformative initiative in the fight against NCDs. For the first time, JACARDI seeks to standardise approaches within and beyond the EU to ensure a coherent strategy for NCDs, and cardiovascular diseases in particular.

The project recognises that there are significant differences in the way countries address NCDs due to differences in government investment and health care frameworks, resulting in different patient pathways. By adopting a standardised approach based on the highest scientific standards, JACARDI brings an innovative dimension to healthcare.

This initiative is remarkable because, while many projects focus on non-communicable diseases, JACARDI prioritises policy integration. Its commitment to high standards of care throughout the patient journey is closely aligned with the mission and values of our organisation.

In your experience, what are the most critical economic and policy considerations when implementing health initiatives in diverse global settings?

When I was a medical student, my professor of internal medicine used to say: “the two most challenging things to achieve with patients are convincing them to stop smoking and losing weight”. These are the main drivers of non-communicable diseases. It’s important to focus on behavioural science and provide patients with evidence to effectively support these changes.

Let me give you an example. Pregnancy is often accompanied by advice to stay physically active, but the consequences of insufficient activity — such as what it means in real life to depend everyday on insulin injections to keep your baby safe — are not clearly communicated. Many patients do not fully understand how their habits affect their lives, with consequences such as gestational diabetes, which is highly disruptive. And that is where JACARDI comes in, to fill that gap, to give patients the information to understand what they can do, what their power is, and the consequences of not following certain guidelines.

Policymakers also need to recognise the importance of investing in the prevention of NCDs. The effectiveness of preventive programs remains largely overlooked, despite all the evidence highlighted during the COVID pandemic. Budget constraints make it difficult to prioritise among multiple health threats, including infectious diseases and cancer. Patients need to be actively involved in prevention, rather than relying on drugs alone. Without their engagement and empowerment, financial resources will always be insufficient to address these pressing health challenges.

How do you see JACARDI’s role in tackling the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Europe?

JACARDI addresses key gaps in the management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, such as health literacy and patient behaviour. If you look at the JACARDI work plan, work packages reflect this in a crystal clear manner, relying on the highest standard of scientific evidence to date to improve outcomes of NCDs. So JACARDI is leading the healthcare transformation toward the prevention of NCDs at the EU level and beyond.

What role do you believe JACARDI can play in shaping future healthcare policies and practices, especially in low-resource settings?

I believe the most important role it can play is to scale up and transfer lessons learned in developed countries to low-resource settings. By acting as a pioneer, it can help to replicate successful policies and practices and guide other regions in addressing these health challenges.

Silvia Ussai is an International Public Health Manager with a unique skill set obtained through a double degree as Doctor of Pharmacy and Medical Doctor. She holds a specialization in International Healthcare Management from SDA Bocconi and, in 2019, she successfully completed the Program on Negotiation (PON), the executive-level negotiation training offered by Harvard University. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Ussai has made significant contributions to health policies and pharmaceutical systems at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Learn more about Silvia Ussai and her work and connect on LinkedIn.