FRAMEWORK

Cardiovascular disease and its many manifestations have a major impact on the lives of millions of patients and those around them. There is no doubt that cardiovascular disease will remain the most frequent cause of death and disability in Europe and throughout the world. At the global level, the World Health Organization reported that “cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) take the lives of 17.9 million people every year, 31% of all global deaths” (2018). By 2030, the number of people who die from CVDs, mainly from heart disease and stroke, will increase to reach 23.3 million.

In order to reduce the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, in 2013 European Member States signed the Health for Growth Programme, the third multi-annual programme of EU action in the field of health for the period 2014-2020. The aim is to identify, spread and promote the adoption of validated good practices for efficient and sustainable prevention measures, facing the main risk factors related to cardiovascular diseases, fighting tobacco use, alcohol dependence, obesity and promoting good lifestyles.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Before the EU elections, last 9th of April 2019, in occasion of the XIII European Patients' Rights Day, Active Citizenship Network has promoted a debate on citizens' expectations with a selection of MEP candidates and, then, published a Position Paper on prevention, innovation and a new health governance for the new EU Institutions, drafted by ACN with the endorsement of 18 associations. The first request send to the new EU Institutions is linked with the need to increase resources for health prevention. In coherence with this message, starting from the second half of 2019, ACN has decided to increase the awareness of a growing number of patients’ rights associations on the importance of the prevention and management of pathologies correlated to cardiovascular protection, as well as on the new available therapeutic options that exist today. To do so, it was launched a multi-annual EU project with the aim of increasing consciousness on correct lifestyles and access to treatment, collecting good practices and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe.

The project is articulated in the following 4 initiatives:

• A cycle of training seminars - realized between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 - addressed to the leaders of civic and patients’ associations from different European countries, which are not yet particularly focused on the theme of cardiovascular protection
  
  
  
• 29 & 30 OCTOBER: Read more and download all the materials of the first two-sessions seminar
  
  16-17 November 2020: Read more and download all the materials of the second two-sessions seminar
  
  14-15 DECEMBER 16:30-18:30 CET Read more about the third two-sessions seminar
  
  26 & 27 January 2021Read more and download all the materials of the last two seminars!
  
  
• An European and national awareness campaign on proper lifestyles and on the prevention of the risks linked to cardiovascular disorders and pathologies.
• We have released 3 videos subtitled in 10 different languages about the three key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases:
  • Unhealthy eating habits 
  • Smoking 
  • Inactive lifestyle
  Read more, see and share the videos in your language!
• A public event, hosted by the Interest Group "European Patients' Rights & CrossBorder Healthcare,” to share good practices and political views to subject to the attention of the new European institutions. Read more about the event

OBJECTIVES

The Project aims to:

• Increasing the awareness of a growing number of patients’ rights associations on the importance of the prevention and management of pathologies correlated to cardiovascular protection, as well as on the new available therapeutic options today;
• Raising the citizens awareness about EU patients’ rights, with specific reference to cardiovascular diseases, and inform them on how foster their implementation;
• Informing citizens on the organisations committed to give information to patients affected by CVDs and about the national patient associations available for assistance;
• Contributing to fill the discrepancy between the associations already focused on CVDs and the ones who are not yet.

NATIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

The following associations joined the project confirming their participation at all the four initiatives:

Country	Name & website	Logo
Albania	Together for Life
Bulgaria	Association of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
Bulgaria	Bulgarian Association Bulgarian Association for Patients' Defense (BAPD)
Bulgaria	Patients' Organizations “With You”
Cyprus	Nicosia Heart Patients’ Association
France	Indecosa
Italy	Cittadinanzattiva - Tribunal for patients’ rights
Latvia	Par Sirdi
Lithuania	Saugok Save
Macedonia	Association of doctors for intersectoral collaboration ADICD (Member of Macedoninan Medical Association MMA)
Malta	Malta Health Network
Malta	National Patients’ Organization of Malta
Portugal	Diabetic Patients Association
The Netherlands	European Patients Empowerment for Customized Solution
The Netherlands	euPrevent
Poland	Institute for Patients' Rights & Health Education
Slovenia	Kultlab Celje Society
Spain	Foro Espanol de Pacientes
Spain	Federacion Espanola de Diabetes
Sweden	FOKUS patient
Ukraine	Southern Ukrainian Center of Citizens’ Rights in Health

EUROPEAN ADVOCACY EXPERT GROUPS

The following European associations will support Active Citizenship Network providing advocacy expertise on CVDs at the EU level:

Name & website	Logo
European Congenital Heart Disease Organisation
Stroke Alliance for Europe
The Heart Failure Policy Network

NATIONAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNER

The following associations will support Active Citizenship Network providing advocacy expertise on CVDs at the local level:

Country	Name & website	Logo
Italy	Federazione diabete Emilia Romagna Fe.D.E.R.
Italy	Cittadinanzattiva-Emilia Romagna

SCIENTIFIC PARTNER

Società Italiana di Medicina Generale e delle Cure Primarie (S.I.M.G.) will support Active Citizenship Network providing scientific content

The project will be realized thanks to the support of

The commitment of Cittadinanzattiva-Active Citizenship Network in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (EN – IT)

To know more please write to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To know more:

• Increasing consciousness and access to treatment, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe – AWARNESS CAMPAIGN
• Panelist at "Promoting civic information to better address the collateral damage of COVID-19 on cardiovascular disease across Europe"
• Promoting civic information to better address the collateral damage of COVID-19 on cardiovascular disease across Europe
• Agenda of the fourth two-sessions EU seminars "Increasing consciousness and access to treatment, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe"
• Agenda of the third two-sessions EU seminars "Increasing consciousness and access to treatment, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe"
• Agenda of the second two-sessions EU seminars "Increasing consciousness and access to treatment, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe"
• Agenda of the first two-sessions EU seminars "Increasing consciousness and access to treatment, reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases across Europe"

(page updated on Sept. 2020)