On 11 December 2025, the India Chapter of the APAC CVD Alliance convened its second Policy Dialogue, bringing together public health leaders, clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and development partners to reflect on a shared challenge: how to more effectively translate cardiovascular disease (CVD) policies into real-world care across India.
The dialogue took place against the backdrop of India’s rising CVD burden and the growing recognition that while robust national policies exist, implementation gaps persist, particularly at the primary and secondary care levels. Discussions emphasized that strengthening primary care readiness is fundamental for early detection, continuity of care, and long-term CVD management.
Participants also underscored the importance of integrating patient and community voices into both policy design and service delivery, ensuring that care pathways are responsive to lived realities. Digital health tools and stronger data systems were highlighted as critical enablers for improving screening, follow-up, and clinical decision-making. Importantly, the dialogue called for an equity-driven, “womb-to-tomb” approach to cardiovascular care, spanning prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative services.
The Policy Dialogue reinforced the value of cross-sector collaboration, grounded in evidence and community experience, to drive meaningful change in cardiovascular outcomes.
As the Secretariat of the APAC CVD Alliance, ACCESS Health continues to support these dialogues by convening stakeholders, synthesizing insights, and advancing people-centred, equitable cardiovascular care across the region.