The World Heart Federation is the principal representative body of the global cardiovascular community and works on its behalf to influence policies and create a world where people everywhere have access to the tools they need to live long, heart-healthy lives.
Global Advocacy
The World Heart Federation advocates on behalf of the cardiovascular community to bring CVD to the forefront of the global health agenda. In addition to supporting the capacity of our Members to advocate domestically, WHF is deeply engaged in policy advocacy at the international level, informing and influencing decision-makers in support of evidence-based policy change and implementation. Strategically located in Geneva, Switzerland, we work closely with the World Health Organization, NCD Alliance, and other international organizations to shape strong health policies and help find cost-effective solutions to reduce the global burden of CVD.
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World Heart Summit
Since 2016, World Heart Federation has been convening leaders and innovators in cardiovascular health at its annual Global Summit on Circulatory Health. The Summit is an invitation-only, two-day event where government, civil society, industry, and academia share, learn and explore what’s next for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Summit went virtual and adapted into an innovative webinar series called Heart Talks: A Series of the 5th Global Summit on Circulatory Health.
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Global Coalition for Circulatory Health
The Global Coalition for Circulatory Health was launched in 2017 at the WHO Global Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases in Montevideo, Uruguay. It brings together international, regional and national stakeholders in circulatory health to drive the urgent action needed to combat heart disease and stroke. The Global Coalition is open to any professional global, regional, and national civil society organization with a role in circulatory health.
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Policy Briefs
Our policy briefs present concise summaries of information that can help readers understand and make informed decisions about policies related to cardiovascular disease, associated risk factors and determinants of health. They provide objective summaries of relevant research, outline existing global policies, suggest possible approaches and argue for courses of action that governments should take when creating or considering policies to foster healthy environments in their country or region.
WHF Policy Brief on Front-of-Pack Labelling
Clean Air, Smart Cities, Healthy Hearts
E-cigarettes: A New Threat for Cardiovascular Health
The Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Cardiovascular Health: Myths and Measures
Position Papers
Our position papers reflect our policy positions on a wide range of CVD-related issues. They are supported by scientific studies published in recognized journals and have a rigorous review and approval process. These papers generally include a review of data available on a specific subject, an evaluation on its relationship to overall cardiovascular disease science, and WHF recommendations on the basis of that evaluation within the context of global public health policy.
The Case for the Digital Transformation of Circulatory Health
Improving Access to Essential Medicines for All People: A Call to Action
Preventing the Next Pandemic: The Case for Investing in Circulatory Health
CVD Roadmaps
Our Roadmaps are designed and developed by international teams of experts who together identify challenges and offer solutions on specific topics impacting cardiovascular mortality. They can serve as models for regions and countries to develop their own Roadmaps and create or update their national non-communicable disease action plans. They offer a framework to bring together stakeholders with the objective of determining, prioritizing and implementing solutions to reduce premature CVD deaths in any context.
Atrial Fibrillation
Chagas Disease
Cholesterol
CVD in People Living with Diabetes
Heart Failure
Raised Blood Pressure
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Secondary Prevention
Tobacco Control
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WHF Roundtables
Our Roundtables provide a national forum for stakeholders in cardiovascular health to identify barriers to and solutions for secondary and primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and then develop national plans of action to be implemented in partnership with governments and policymakers, healthcare professionals, academic and research institutions, NGOs, health advocates, and corporate entities.
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World Heart Summit 2022 to be held in Geneva—the heart of global health diplomacy
In 2022, for the very first time, the World Heart Federation’s World Heart Summit will be held in Geneva, Switzerland – the heart of global health policymaking and diplomacy. This exclusive, invitation-only event, which brings together leaders and innovators in the field of cardiovascular health, will take place on 21-22 May 2022, just ahead of […]
Global health community calls for climate action ahead of COP26 to avert “biggest health threat facing humanity”
GENEVA (11 October 2021) – The World Heart Federation has joined a global call to action for governments to update their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, in line with their fair share of limiting warming to 1.5°C. The call comes ahead of the UN climate conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UK as more than 300 […]
Air Pollution
Accelerating progress on prevention and control of NCDs in the South-East Asia Region
This is a statement made at the 74th Session of the WHO Regional Committee of the South-East Asia on Agenda Item 8.1: Accelerating progress on prevention and control of NCDs, including oral health and integrated eye care, in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Honourable Chair, distinguished delegates, Thank you for the opportunity to deliver this […]
On the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, the World Heart Federation calls for global action to mitigate the negative impacts of air pollution on people’s health
GENEVA (7 September 2021) – The World Heart Federation (WHF) has developed a new policy brief aimed at reducing the negative impacts of air pollution on people’s cardiovascular and overall health. Together with high blood pressure, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, air pollution is one of the most important risk factors for heart attack, stroke, […]
Air Pollution
Yesterday, WHF President @fjpinto1960 presented "The role of WHF in promoting Global Cardiovascular Health" at the… https://t.co/7WZhCsKgUt
26 minutes ago
Did you know that more than 12% of deaths in boys and men aged 15-49 are caused by #alcohol? The portrayal of alc… https://t.co/w9XWk3co3d
about 1 hour ago
We are calling on governments to: 🚫 Restrict the availability of #alcohol 💊 Improve access to screening & treatmen… https://t.co/zJJS3d3rso
about 5 hours ago
No amount of alcohol can help prevent heart disease 💔 Our new Policy Brief highlights the need for cost-effective… https://t.co/YHzaRhqhVE
about 7 hours ago
RT @Porter_Anderson: Media: @JReinerMD to @KateBolduan on the @worldheartfed report: "Alcohol is poison to the heart muscle ... I remind my…
about 22 hours ago