The Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA) is calling on all political parties in the Netherlands to give cardiovascular disease (CVD) the attention it urgently deserves in their 2025 election manifestos. With 1.7 million people currently living with CVD – a number expected to rise to 2.6 million by 2030 – the pressure on individuals, healthcare, and society continues to grow.

Despite being the second leading cause of death in the Netherlands and the highest contributor to national healthcare costs (€6.8 billion annually), cardiovascular disease remains underrepresented in national health policy. The DCVA – a unique alliance of patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, academic centers, and health foundations – is urging politicians to act now by implementing concrete measures for early detection, better treatment, and smarter use of health data.

In its input to political parties, the DCVA outlines five key policy recommendations:

• A structured national program for early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

• Increased awareness and knowledge of heart failure across all levels of healthcare.

• Development of a national health data infrastructure that enables the use of AI for personalized, effective care.

• Acceleration of the “Right Care in the Right Place” approach through national coordination and structural funding.

• Legal and financial support for postmortem diagnostics, particularly in cases of sudden death under the age of 45.

“We aim to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease by 25%, but we cannot achieve this alone,” says Jolien Roos-Hesselink, Managing-Director of the DCVA. “We call on political leaders to help make cardiovascular health a national priority. Now is the time to act – for patients, for future generations, and for the sustainability of our healthcare system.”

The full input submitted to political parties can be found in the attachment below.