On 25 March 2026, together with our partners the Dutch Heart Foundation and the Association of Innovative Medicines we brought together clinicians, patients, industry and policymakers, including representatives from D66, VVD, FVD, BBB and SGP, at Nieuwspoort in The Hague. The goal was clear: to call for a national action plan for cardiovascular health in the Netherlands.
The event started with a personal story from Marc Rijken, an FH (familial hypercholesterolemia) patient and ambassador. He shared how cardiovascular disease unexpectedly entered his life, the impact of multiple cardiac events, and what his disease means for his family – especially knowing that two of his daughters are also affected. His story made one thing very clear: cardiovascular disease is not just a medical issue, but something that deeply affects everyday life and future perspectives.
This was followed by Dr. Sandra van Wijk (cardiologist, Zuyderland MC), who translated the urgency into facts and figures. Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the leading causes of death in the Netherlands and puts increasing pressure on the healthcare system. Often, disease progression develops silently over many years before a sudden presentation. Key risk factors – such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors – play a major role.
The broader context was then outlined by Hans Snijder (Dutch Heart Foundation). He presented the Dutch Cardiovascular Agenda as a strong starting point for a national plan, linking it to the recently published EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (Safe Hearts Plan), which calls on Member States to develop and strengthen national cardiovascular action plans. Across Europe, there is a clear move towards prevention, early detection, better care coordination and investment in research and innovation.
Following this, Carla Vos (Association of Innovative Medicines) presented key insights from the PwC report on cardiovascular health in the Netherlands. The report, developed together with experts from across the field, highlights where the current system falls short and where the biggest opportunities lie. Two key areas stood out: the need to strengthen prevention and early detection, and to improve coordination of care and multidisciplinary collaboration. The report also provides concrete, actionable recommendations to improve cardiovascular health at a national level.
These presentations highlighted the initiatives already taken by the field and underscored the need for a national action plan. At the same time, the Dutch situation reveals a clear gap: while national action plans exist for diseases such as cancer and dementia, there is still no overarching national strategy for cardiovascular health, despite its major impact on society. Importantly, the building blocks are already in place. The Netherlands has a strong cardiovascular ecosystem, with 24 organizations united within the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA), creating a real opportunity to move towards one coordinated national approach.
During the political discussion, there was clear support for taking next steps. Diederik van Dijk (SGP) emphasized the importance of investing in research and prevention, while Marc Vervuurt (D66) welcomed the strong, united signal coming from the field. Both also expressed their support by signing the pledge.
As Eric Boersma (DCVA) emphasized: “The foundation is strong – the field is well organized, rich in knowledge and initiatives, and with a proven ability to collaborate. What we need now is alignment and support to bring this together into one coherent national approach.”
