Qatar is set to adopt the CARDIO4Cities approach, a data-driven cardiovascular health initiative, and will serve as the regional hub for its expansion across the Middle East and North Africa, as announced at the closing session of WISH 2024, the biennial healthcare knowledge gathering organized by Qatar Foundation.
Developed and validated by the Novartis Foundation, CARDIO4Cities has proven to effectively enhance cardiovascular health in urban populations. The initiative utilizes data to help authorities make informed decisions about healthcare systems and populations, and has already been successfully implemented in São Paulo, Brazil; Dakar, Senegal; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation, noted, “The CARDIO4Cities initiative has had a remarkable impact in regions like Latin America, where we saw significant reductions in heart attack and stroke rates.” She added, “By launching CARDIO4Cities in Doha, Qatar not only joins this global movement, leveraging its advanced health and data infrastructure to replicate these successes, but also takes a leadership role in the region, which we hope will inspire other Middle Eastern countries to embrace precision population health.”
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, responsible for over 20 million deaths each year, with up to 80% of these fatalities occurring in low and middle-income countries. The majority of CVD-related deaths are preventable.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director of the Public Health Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, explained, “CVD is the leading cause of death in Qatar, with noncommunicable diseases costing the country QR 18.1 billion annually. CVDs account for 73% of this burden. Since many CVDs are preventable, we are committed to focusing on prevention rather than just improving care, especially for chronic diseases, many of which can be addressed outside healthcare facilities in our daily lives. That’s why we are excited to implement CARDIO4Cities in Qatar and collaborate with various sectors to improve cardiovascular health in the country.”
Dr. Hilal Lashuel, Research, Development, and Innovation Adviser at Qatar Foundation, highlighted the significance of Qatar’s participation in the initiative: “Being part of CARDIO4Cities presents Qatar with unique opportunities to improve public health and foster innovation. Collaborating with a global network of cities allows us to share insights, learn from one another, and be inspired by solutions developed in different urban environments. This partnership will enable us to develop tools to collect, integrate, and analyze data, and create scalable strategies to improve cardiovascular health at both the population and individual levels.” He also emphasized the initiative’s tailored, data-driven approach, which adapts interventions to local needs while ensuring local ownership and prioritizing data privacy and security.
The two-day WISH 2024 summit, held under the theme “Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience,” brought together over 3,000 delegates, including more than 200 global health leaders and expert speakers, to discuss evidence-based solutions for pressing global health challenges, including the impact of conflict on healthcare, cancer, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, and palliative care.
