"When we talk about lives saved, we have to not only talk about the cost of inaction, how stern and sober this message is, but also the cost of opportunity and revenues."
Borjana Pervan
"In the next 20 minutes, 780 people will die from cardiovascular disease. Think about that number. Together, with governments, industry, and research institutions united by federations such as ours, we have the knowledge and the power to change this."
Jenelle Krishnamoorthy
"Move beyond the health argument and make the fiscal argument. Prevention keeps people out of the healthcare system and in the labor force."
Christopher Skedgel
"We will launch a new AI service in March 2026 for pre-screening of cardiovascular disease. It provides individual plans, reminders, and forecasts when, where, and why you should be screened, along with follow-up."
Dr. Eirini Agapidaki
Key Takeaways
Critical Scale and Preventability: Cardiovascular disease kills 780 people every 20 minutes, yet 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes are preventable. This represents the world’s deadliest but most preventable cause of death.
Proven Prevention Impact: Greece’s screening program demonstrates measurable results: 2.2 million people screened with over 7,000 individuals with ischemia identified. Economic modeling shows every euro spent on screening is justified through lives saved and workforce productivity gains.
Economic Case Beyond Health: Prevention keeps people out of healthcare systems and in the labor force. The global burden shows three-quarters of a trillion dollars in direct costs for atherosclerotic diseases, with one-third being largely preventable through cholesterol management.
Technology as Access Enabler: AI services for cardiovascular pre-screening launching in March 2026 will provide personalized plans and integrated electronic medical records. Mobile units address geographical barriers in remote areas.
Policy Gap and Leadership: Only 16 countries (8%) have standalone cardiovascular health plans compared to over 80% having cancer plans. Success requires thinking beyond governmental cycles and creating sustainable frameworks.
Human-Centered Advocacy: Data alone is insufficient – policymakers need to see lives behind the numbers. Effective advocacy finds people where they are rather than waiting for them to seek help.
Action Items
Immediate Implementation: Establish standalone cardiovascular health action plans with multi-year funding commitments beyond political cycles. Deploy population-wide screening programs for adults aged 30–70 targeting premature deaths. Integrate AI-powered pre-screening tools with mobile units for rural access.
Sustainable Funding: Implement 50% taxation on unhealthy products (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks) to fund cardiovascular initiatives. Emphasize fiscal arguments alongside health arguments, highlighting workforce productivity benefits. Document return on investment using disability-adjusted life years and cost savings models.
Technology Integration: Deploy AI services integrated with electronic medical records across healthcare specialties. Create patient-accessible digital platforms for personalized health management. Establish open-access health databases for researchers and pharmaceutical partnerships.
Advocacy and Partnerships: Show lives behind statistics when communicating with policymakers. Engage multiple sectors beyond health, including climate, humanitarian, and economic stakeholders. Target vulnerable populations through proactive outreach and digital channels.
Systemic Changes: Ensure AI and preventative care access reaches underserved communities. Build inter-ministerial collaborations for comprehensive health approaches. Create implementation toolboxes to maintain policy continuity across administrations.
