Improving cardiovascular (CV) health is of paramount importance in Poland. The society is currently facing increasing demands for specialised care, driven by the high prevalence of risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia, smoking, physical inactivity and the increasing rates of overweight and obesity.
This paper underscores the critical importance of improving CV health in an effort to strengthen Poland’s healthcare system and ensure equitable access to care. Building on prior research by EFPIA and PwC, it draws insights from a multi-stakeholder roundtable convened in Warsaw in June 2024, bringing together public institutions, patient organisations, academia, professional societies, and the pharmaceutical industry.
The paper identifies key challenges, including the need for systematic CV screening and prevention, increased awareness of CV disease, better use of health data, and enhanced access to quality care for all. By integrating diverse perspectives and linking Poland's CV policies with EU-wide strategies, it provides actionable recommendations to policymakers for advancing CV health.
This report serves as both a roadmap and a call to action, urging policymakers to drive meaningful reforms, improve health outcomes, and build a more resilient healthcare system for the future, with implications for the entire European region in the context of Poland’s Presidency of the European Council.
