The EU Structural Heart Disease (SHD) Coalition welcomes the European Commission’s open consultation for the 2026 EU4Health Work Programme and urges the European Commission to make cardiovascular health a central priority of the 2026 EU4Health Work Programme. The European Commission must ensure that prevention, early detection, and equitable care for SHD are adequately addressed within the EU’s flagship health funding initiative.
Despite recent steps taken by the EU4Health, significant gaps remain in tackling the leading cause of death in the European Union: Cardiovascular diseases. Integrating SHD-specific actions into national and European health strategies is vital to improving early diagnosis and survival rates, preventing severe complications, and enhancing quality of life for millions of Europeans. For this reason, a dedicated focus within the EU4Health programme will help translate political will into tangible outcomes.”
The Coalition emphasises the urgent need to align the EU4Health programme with the Council Conclusions on the Improvement of Cardiovascular Health in the European Union (December 2024) and the upcoming EU CVH Plan. Embedding cardiovascular health as a core priority would guarantee sustainable funding for treatment, research, and healthcare infrastructure, strengthening EU health systems and advancing active and healthy ageing.