EU Call To Action - SHD Coalition |SHD Coalition

With Europe’s rapidly ageing population comes a greater increase in age-related conditions, such as structural heart disease. Most structural heart diseases can be treated if detected early, enabling people to continue contribute to society, the wider economy, and live actively and healthily.

The EU SHD Coalition is calling for a comprehensive approach to addressing Structural Heart Disease through early detection, standardized screening, streamlined patient referrals, and targeted initiatives to address systemic failures and gender disparities in care.

The Safe Hearts plan explicitly recognises Structural Heart Disease and seeks to strengthen national policies to holistically achieve the 25% decrease in premature cardiovascular-related deaths target by 2035.

From Plan to Practice: Implementing the EU Safe Hearts Plan for Structural Heart Diseases

Optimising the EU Cardiovascular Health Check Protocol: The Case for Systematic Auscultation and ECG for SHD

Addressing Sex and Gender Disparities in
Cardiovascular Health
– A European Call to Action

Health Checks Protocols for Structural Heart Disease in the EU – April 2026

Listen to the Heartbeat of Europe: Tackling SHD Through Early Detection, Equity & Investment

Tackling inequalities in the detection and treatment of structural heart disease in Europe

Manifesto by Brando Benifei MEP outlining the need to address SHD.

April 2019

Tackling The Burden Of Structural Heart Disease In Europe

The case for early detection of structural heart disease: what needs to happen to implement SHD screening programs in europe

ILC Report – The invisible epidemic. Rethinking the detection and treatment of structural heart disease in Europe

Our Calls to Action directed at political decision-makers in Europe

On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan: “the Safe Hearts Plan”. The EU SHD Coalition welcomes the Safe Hearts Plan as the first-ever EU policy to tackle Europe’s leading cause of death, cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the Coalition also welcomes the European Commission’s ambition to publish Council Recommendations on a Health Check Protocol before the end of 2026, Council recommendations on EU guidance for personalised and integrated pathways for CVD in 2027. To enhance treatment and care, as well as the aspiration to foster the creation of national Cardiovascular Health Plans, which requires structured coordination at EU level, the Coalition is calling on the EU Commission and Member States to:

Routine screening for early detection of SHD

The EU Health Check Protocol should include routine screenings for early detection of SHD through auscultation, with standardised training for primary care professionals and specific measures for people aged 65 and over.

Integrated patient pathway from referral to treatment

A harmonised pathway is needed to link early detection, referral, treatment, rehabilitation, and follow-up, with explicit referral protocols to ensure timely access to care in comprehensive network-based cardiovascular centres.

Ensuring funding for implementation of the Safe Hearts Plan

Long-term financial commitment through current and future EU funding mechanisms, including FP10 and ECF, is necessary to support SHD policies and ensure equitable healthcare investment also at the national level.

Addressing sex and gender inequalities in SHD Care

Address gender disparities in SHD care by raising awareness of the disease symptoms, and by ameliorating early screening, referral and access to treatment for women and underrepresented population, through digital solutions.