Dutch healthcare associations are urging the Ministry of Health to attend a crucial meeting in February. Specifically, they want the government to help shape a national cardiovascular strategy. The event is co-organized by the Dutch Innovative Medicines Association (VIG), the Dutch Cardiovascular Alliance (DCVA), and the Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting). Its goal is to translate the EU’s new Safe Hearts plan into national action.
Dineke Amsing, VIG’s director of policy and partnerships, stressed the importance of government involvement. “Active engagement allows policymakers to connect directly with the entire cardiovascular field,” she said. Moreover, it helps align existing initiatives and signals that heart health is a national priority. She added that ministry support is essential to turn the Dutch Cardiovascular Agenda into real policies—and ultimately, a strong national cardiovascular strategy.
So far, the ministry has not confirmed attendance. A spokesperson for caretaker Health Minister Jan Anthonie Bruijn (VVD) said the government is still deciding. However, they noted that participation remains possible. In the meantime, the Netherlands’ official response to the EU’s Safe Hearts plan will go to Parliament in February.
This timing adds urgency to the request. Recently, the DCVA pointed out that the ministry lacks a dedicated cardiovascular lead. The spokesperson acknowledged this gap. Yet, they explained that responsibility spans multiple policy areas. “The subject matter is diverse and cross-cutting,” they said, “touching several task fields within the ministry.”
Therefore, health groups see the February meeting as a vital opportunity. They aim to adapt the EU vision to the Dutch context. In doing so, they hope to give policymakers a clear foundation for a national cardiovascular strategy. Gera de Grauw, advocacy manager at the Heart Foundation, emphasized the political moment. “Negotiations on a new government coalition are underway,” she said. “That makes it even more urgent to act now.”
Indeed, all three organizations welcomed the EU’s Safe Hearts initiative. After all, cardiovascular disease remains Europe’s top cause of death. They praised its call for long-term coordination and its push for national action plans. “This creates political momentum,” said Eric Boersma, managing director of the DCVA. “It helps us move away from fragmented efforts toward structural, sustainable solutions.”
Nevertheless, the groups noted room for improvement. De Grauw said they had hoped for stronger EU measures on nutrition and alcohol—two major risk factors for heart disease. Amsing agreed, adding that while the framework is promising, national implementation will determine its success.
Given these developments, stakeholders see a narrow window to act. With a new Dutch government likely forming soon, they must embed cardiovascular health into core policy quickly. Their shared goal is clear: transform ambition into a unified, actionable national cardiovascular strategy that saves lives.
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