New European plan to prevent cardiovascular diseases may fall short

As we know, cardiovascular diseases are largely preventable through targeted action on key controllable risk factors such as unhealthy diet, tobacco use, physical inactivity, air pollution, and harmful use of alcohol.

CPME has therefore recommended the Commission to prioritise public health when making policies and to deliver the legislative proposals of the 2021 Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to reduce these risk factors.

These initiatives were related to some of the cost-effective, evidence-based WHO’s ‘’Best Buys’’ to prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases such as taxes on unhealthy products, labelling rules for food, health warnings on tobacco and alcohol, as well as stronger restrictions on marketing and advertising.

In this light, European doctors are pleased to see that the European Commission intends to propose a revision of the legislative framework on tobacco control.

This will adapt to new developments and market trends, e.g. by strengthening the rules on novel tobacco and nicotine products. Already prior to the Safe Hearts Plan, the Commission has proposed to update the EU Tobacco Taxation Directive as the latest update to the Directive is from 2010 and the market dynamics have changed significantly since then.

The EU Commissioners for health and taxation have pledged to drive taxes high, but the Commission’s trade department has been criticised for undisclosed meetings with the tobacco industry, failing to meet its transparency obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This shows a lack of coherent policy-making.

Unfortunately, the Safe Hearts Plan does not include many other effective legislative proposals to combat cardiovascular diseases.

Proposals for Council recommendations on vaccination against respiratory infections and on promoting health-enhancing physical activity can be seen positive, as well as the trainings to healthcare professionals on the link between vaccine-preventable diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

However, the plan only briefly mentions taxation of alcoholic and sugar-sweetened beverages; climate change and environmental factors, such as air or noise pollution; and health literacy, without proposing any concrete actions.

We sincerely hope that there will be meaningful follow up to some of the new plan’s elements such as the study on ultra-processed foods and the intention to evaluate the Audiovisual Media Service Directive, which includes rules to protect minors from harmful advertising.

European doctors remind policymakers that protecting the health of millions of European citizens cannot be done without binding legislative measures.

We hope with all our hearts that this will not be forgotten when the EU cardiovascular health plan is implemented.