Birgit Beger: An EU Cardiovascular Health Plan is the best way forward

Birgit Beger, CEO of the European Heart Network (EHN) and member of JACARDI’s Stakeholder Advisory Board, strongly believes that investment in health is a win-win for society overall. With the EU stepping up with the European Commission’s recent announcement of an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, Birgit Beger shares her hope for an ambitious proposal by the European Commission in line with the work undertaken for the European Beating Cancer Plan. She sees JACARDI’s importance in leveraging knowledge and best practices across Europe and underscores the need to involve stakeholders early on, because they can help bridge the gap between policy and practice.

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

In line with EHN Strategy, JACARDI, with its joint action of European pilot projects to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, mirrors one of EHN’s core pillars: prevention. Furthermore, EHN supports JACARDI’s overarching goal of improving CVDs and diabetes in terms of disease management.

In your experience, what are the most pressing challenges in implementing effective healthcare policy at both the EU and national levels in the area of cardiovascular disease prevention?

There is a disconnect between the political and healthcare practice levels. For example, the pressing societal burden of cardiovascular diseases has only recently come to the attention of policy makers at national and European levels. The recognition of the urgency for action is growing and yet, given that we are speaking these days about a permacrisis, many politicians are dealing with a myriad of urgent priorities simultaneously. However, as has always been argued, investment in health is a win-win for society overall, financially, for social inclusion and cohesion. This is particularly relevant for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the number one cause of mortality and morbidity in Europe and globally.

EHN’s vision is that “every person in Europe should grow up and live in a sustainable environment which promotes cardiovascular health. Premature and preventable deaths due to cardiovascular diseases should be reduced by 30% in 2030. State of the art, personalised care and quality of life should be accessible and attainable for those born or living with CVD”. In this context, taking legislative action to reduce the impact of major risk factors for CVD (unhealthy nutrition, smoking, physical inactivity, air pollution and climate change, but also hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol levels) are of the utmost importance in reducing the burden of CVD.

This being said, not all CVDs are preventable. Therefore, it is equally important to invest in early detection and management of cardiovascular diseases, thereby enabling people who are at high risk of developing CVD, or who have already contracted a CVD, to actively manage their condition, so that they can live to a mature age, with a good quality of life.

What do you see as the key success factors for achieving long-term impact in reducing the prevalence and burden of CVD? How is the EU CVH plan coming along?

Indeed, EHN believes that an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan is the best way forward since it represents a structured and financed approach to combat the cardiovascular burden on society and the increasing CVD numbers, which are already emerging for 2023 and 2024 following the Covid-19 pandemic. We see that many Member States are taking action for national CVH plans, that the European Parliament is supporting a European CVH plan and we are pleased to hear that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen identified CVD as a new health priority for her renewed mandate. It is important that the European Commission comes forward with an ambitious proposal in line with the work undertaken for the European Beating Cancer Plan.

Therefore, we applaud wholeheartedly the recent adoption of Council Conclusions on the Improvement of Cardiovascular Health in the EU on 3 December 2024, as well as the commitment from the new Health Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi, to develop a European Cardiovascular Health Plan. EHN particularly welcomes references made to prevention, women’s health and research. A strong focus on the patients’ voice will be a decisive quality element of such a future European plan. It will hopefully trigger efforts at national level to improve or develop national cardiovascular health plans.

How important are EU-funded projects like JACARDI in addressing NCDs, and what role do they play in complementing the work of other organizations like EHN?

JACARDI has a real potential to implement policy at national level and to make tangible inroads at the European level. It is very promising that so many health institutions are involved in leveraging knowledge and best practices across Europe. EHN is there to support and advise on the work, but also help to disseminate results across its membership.

As CEO of the European Heart Network, you have a unique perspective on the dynamics of cardiovascular health advocacy across Europe. What lessons from your experience there could be applied to projects like JACARDI to maximize their effectiveness?

It is most important to involve stakeholders early on because they can help bridge the gap between policy and practice. As EHN, we can bring expertise to the table from our members at national level, namely, the patient experience, but we also speak to national and European policy makers. In this way, projects such as JACARDI can be fast-tracked further to develop results, through our consolidated support, which will work in practice through the informed connections these layers will bring.

About Birgit Beger

With 22 years of EU public policy experience focusing on leading European Associations like Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Health NGOs, Birgit Beger is a well-respected senior executive. Birgit is a qualified lawyer and skilled communicator with senior management experience and diplomatic outreach to all political levels, both at the national and European level. She has brought considerable added value to the leadership roles she has held during her tenures as CEO of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO), and as Secretary General of the Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME). She is a member of WHO-Europe Regional Director’s Advisory Council on Innovation for Noncommunicable Diseases (the NCD Advisory Council) and is the CEO of the European Heart Network, a leading advocate and key partner in shaping and advancing the European Cardiovascular Health Plan.

Learn more about the European Heart Network here & connect on LinkedIn here.