We are the global voice for heart health, uniting 200+ organisations to end cardiovascular disease.
Our Vision
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH FOR EVERYONE
See how we are driving policy change through World Heart Vision 2030
Our Mission
To connect, lead and inspire the cardiovascular community
To connect, lead and inspire the cardiovascular community by bringing together scientific cardiology societies, heart foundations, health professionals, patients and the general public, policymakers, governments and the private sector to achieve heart health for everyone.
To translate science into policy
To translate science into policy to influence agencies, governments and policy makers to achieve cardiovascular health for everyone.
To stimulate and catalyse the exchange of knowledge across borders
To stimulate and promote the exchange of information, ideas, practices across all borders, to achieve heart health for everyone, everywhere.
About WHF
A leader and convener in global cardiovascular health, the World Heart Federation champions heart health and acts to reduce the global burden of heart disease and stroke, which together claim 20.5 million lives every year. Our membership of more than 200 heart foundations, scientific societies and patient organizations in more than 100 countries is an active hub, promoting heart health and driving change at the local, regional and global level.
As the principal representative body of the global cardiovascular community, WHF brings together a diverse network of multi-sectoral actors to share knowledge, guide policy, and give people the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives.
Discover how we are working towards impactful change to policy and improved cardiovascular health for everyone.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.4
Reduce premature mortality from CVD and other NCDs by 33% by 2030
The World Heart Federation is the only CVD organization in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO)
With common goals for global health equity, WHO and WHF are natural allies. Our close partnership enables us to share and align our knowledge and goals around cardiovascular disease, primarily in key areas like tobacco and air pollution, as well as neglected conditions such as rheumatic heart disease and Chagas disease.
WHF has “official relations” status as accorded by the Executive Board of WHO to those non-state actors that meet their rigorous criteria for formal engagement. Actors in official relations with WHO are granted additional privileges and access such as the ability to make statements during World Health Assembly debates and participate in high-level meetings.
Our History
The World Heart Federation is formed by a merger of the International Society of Cardiology (ISC) and the International Cardiology Federation (ICF), under the name of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC).
1978
The World Heart Federation is formed by a merger of the International Society of Cardiology (ISC) and the International Cardiology Federation (ICF), under the name of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC).
1996
An agreement between UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Heart Federation instigates ongoing cooperation on different projects, such as the prevention of rheumatic fever and heart disease, Chagas disease and risk factors in school-age children in developing countries
1998
ISFC changes its name to the World Heart Federation, which has since then grown to become a cornerstone of the cardiovascular health field, currently working with more than 200 members and partners around the world.
Today
The World Heart Federation is recognized by the World Health Organization as its leading NGO partner in cardiovascular disease prevention.
WHF Presidents, 1978-Present
Jagat Narula
Daniel Pinero
Fausto Pinto
Karen Sliwa
David Wood
Salim Yusuf
Srinath Reddy
Sidney C. Smith Jr
Pekka Puska
Shahryar A Sheikh
Valentin Fuster
Philip Poole-Wilson
Mario F.C. Maranhao 1999-00 | Tak-Fu Tse
Antonio Bayes de Luna
Elliot Rapaport
David T. Kelly
Wilhelm Rutishauser
Mario R. Garcia-Palmieri
Chuichi Kawai
Paul Puech
Thomas N. James
Henry N. Neufeld
John F. Goodwin (founder of ISCP, a merger of ISC & ICF)
Progress through leadership and community
