Transcript policy makers slide deck

European Heart Health Charter
Official Launch 12 June 2007
European Parliament - Brussels
"Every child born in the new millennium has the right to
live until the age of at least 65 without suffering from
avoidable cardiovascular disease."
Impact of Cardiovacular Diseases
(CVD) in Europe
• CVD is the N°1 killer in developed countries
• CVD accounts for almost half of all deaths in Europe
• causing over 4.35 million deaths each year in the 53 member
states of the World Health Organization European Region
• Causing more than 1.9 million deaths each year in the European
Union (25)
• CVD costs the EU economy 169 billion euros a year
• CVD is responsible for 55% of all deaths in women
across Europe and 43% of all deaths in men, killing
more people than all cancers combined
"The cost to the EU from CVD in terms of lives and
productivity is already enormous. Rising levels of
obesity in some parts of Europe, a failure to
decrease smoking in young women, the
unavailability of healthy foods to some sectors of
the populations, rising blood pressure levels - all
these are only set to lead to an increase in CVD."
Prof. Georgs Andrejevs MEP
Why the charter was created
• To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the
European Union and WHO European Region
• To reduce the inequalities of the burden of CVD within and
between countries
• To place the fight against CVD high on the political agenda
both for the EU and within the individual nation states
• To provide a variety of tools to be used by government
officials, health organisations and associations to improve
public understanding about CVD and its risk factors
• To mobilise cross-sectorial collaboration and broad support
for cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention
What is the Charter
The first Charter designed to prevent
cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Europe.
"This Charter on CVD in Europe has the full support
of both the WHO and the European Commission. It
provides a clear message that WHO and the
European Commission are working hand-in-hand
with cardiologists from the ESC and public
organizations from EHN to form a strong, visible
alliance against Europe's greatest killer.”
Dr Jill Farrington - WHO Regional Office for Europe
The Commitment
"Every child born in the new millennium has
the right to live until the age of at least 65
without suffering from avoidable
cardiovascular disease."
Valentine’s declaration from the Winning Heart
Conference of 14 February 2000
The aim
Substantially reduce the burden of cardiovascular
disease in the European Union and WHO
European Region and reduce inequities and
inequalities in disease burden within and
between countries
Follow the principles of the Heart
Health Charter!
• Implement the policies and measures agreed in highlevel European political documents
• Advocate for and support the development and
implement comprehensive health strategies at
European, National and Regional levels
• Engage in education and empowerment of the public
and patients, raise awareness, secure community
mobilisation
• Support the establishment of national strategies for
detection, management, prevention and care
Refer to article 9 to 18 of the Heart Health Charter
A few national initiatives
Denmark, Italy, Lithuania
What about your country ?
A few national initiatives
• Denmark: Reorienting health services towards
chronic conditions
• Italy: Creating health-supporting environments
• Lithuania: Investing in prevention for health and
development
Source: WHO
Proposed initiative in line with the
Heart Health Charter
[Please Insert national initiative here]
« For the Hearts of our Children
I adopt the Heart Health Charter »
Please visit
www.heartcharter.eu
An initiative of:
• The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) represents more
than 52,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the
Mediterranean. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular
disease in Europe.
• The European Heart Network (EHN) is an alliance of heart
foundations and likeminded non-governmental organisations throughout
Europe, with member organisations in 26 countries.
• The European Commission has developed a coordinated
approach to European health policy: a high level of human health
protection should be assured in all Community policies.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for
Europe is the United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO's
objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of
the highest possible level of health