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The political power of heart doctors: with the European Heart Health Charter towards a European policy on cardiovascular disease

Introduction The emergence of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in the health policy field is relatively recent. Although this organization took the initiative to create Joint European Guidelines for cardiovascular prevention already in 1994, it was not until 2002 that the ESC Board decided ‘to launch a common strategy for member states to reduce cardiovascular deaths by 40%’. This would not be possible without creating alliances to get political support. By tradition, doctors have been very successful in understanding mechanisms behind and treatment of established disease. However, although forfeited by some enthusiasts, a coordinated investment in the preservation of health has been limited. However, doctors are able to provide valuable knowledge on epidemiology and preventive measures that is not available elsewhere. Their knowledge, if shared with the right people, those who make decisions on the society we live in, will help make the right choices to improve their mission to prevent diseases and to save lives. This statement summarizes in a few words the shift that the ESC undertook since the beginning of the millennium, from a purely scientific and medical society to an organization fully involved in the public health policy-making process.