With Asia-Pacific accounting for approximately 60% of global cardiovascular deaths, patient leaders and cardiovascular stakeholders identify opportunities to strengthen prevention, connected care and patient participation in the region
— Patient leaders and cardiovascular stakeholders across Asia-Pacific are calling for stronger collaboration and a greater role for people with lived experience in shaping cardiovascular policy, services and systems: as patients continue to be too often excluded from the discussions and decisions intended to serve them.
Global Heart Hub, the global alliance of heart patient organisations, has published a new report, Driving Cardiovascular Action in Asia-Pacific: Patient Partnership and Collaborative Leadership, which shows that expertise could play a greater role in strengthening cardiovascular action across the region.
The report brings together insights from the Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Roundtable, convened in Bangkok on 27 February 2026 by Global Heart Hub with The George Institute for Global Health as knowledge partner. The Roundtable was co-designed and co-delivered with seven patient organisations from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
Patient leaders joined policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry and other stakeholders to examine the cardiovascular landscape across the region and identify shared priorities for action.
Asia-Pacific accounted for approximately 60% of global cardiovascular deaths in 2021. Despite very different national contexts, Roundtable participants identified common challenges including limited public awareness, underinvestment in prevention and early detection, fragmented care pathways and gaps in rehabilitation and long-term follow-up. But the discussions also pointed to clear opportunities for progress.
Participants called for more preventive, connected and person-centred cardiovascular systems that better link prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term support – and that involve patients more meaningfully in shaping them.
Patient organisations see what health systems can miss
Across Asia-Pacific, patient organisations are already educating communities, helping people navigate care, identifying unmet needs and advocating for better cardiovascular health.
Their direct connection with patients and communities gives them insight into barriers that clinical or policy data alone may not always reveal.
Yet opportunities for patient organisations to contribute to cardiovascular policy, research, service design and health-system decision-making remain inconsistent.
The report argues that greater patient partnership represents an opportunity not only to strengthen patient voice, but to help governments, health systems and other stakeholders design policies and services that better reflect the realities of people living with cardiovascular disease.
“Across Asia-Pacific, patient leadership is already driving change. Global Heart Hub, its Affiliates and partners in the region are exploring ways to connect that leadership, strengthen its influence and embed it in cardiovascular systems.” – Neil Johnson, Executive Director, Global Heart Hub
The report identifies opportunities for action across the cardiovascular ecosystem, including stronger prevention and early detection, better continuity across the patient journey, meaningful routes for patient participation and greater investment in the capacity of patient organisations.
From regional insight to collective action
One practical outcome of the Roundtable is the Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Patient Leadership Roadmap, which provides a pathway for building on patient leadership already present across the region.
It moves from strengthening connections and recognition of patient expertise towards greater patient influence in policy and programmes, with the longer-term ambition of making patient participation a more routine part of cardiovascular governance and decision-making.
The roadmap is one part of a broader regional effort emerging from the Roundtable. Global Heart Hub and its Affiliates will continue exploring opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and greater patient-led impact across Asia-Pacific.
Read Driving Cardiovascular Action in Asia-Pacific: Patient Partnership and Collaborative Leadership
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About the Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Roundtable
The Asia-Pacific Cardiovascular Roundtable was convened by Global Heart Hub in Bangkok, Thailand on 27 February 2026, with The George Institute for Global Health as knowledge partner.
The initiative was co-designed and co-delivered with seven patient organisations:
- Banmo520, China
- DakshamA Health & Education, India
- Heart Health India Foundation, India
- Diabetes Initiative Indonesia, Indonesia
- Heart Valve Voice Japan, Japan
- Pertubuhan Teras Jantung, Malaysia
- Heart to Heart Foundation, Thailand
About Global Heart Hub
Global Heart Hub is the leading global alliance of heart patient organisations, working to unite and empower patient communities in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Through collaboration, advocacy and patient leadership, Global Heart Hub works to ensure that the voices and expertise of people living with cardiovascular disease inform policies, health systems, research and care.
Contact Info:
Name: Global Heart Hub Communications
Email: Send Email
Organization: Global Heart Hub CLG
Website: http://www.globalhearthub.org
Release ID: 89202690
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