29 January 2025
Irene Sánchez Artero - INCLIVA
“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.