European Commission presents Council recommendations on early detection.

The European Commission aims to improve the early detection of cardiovascular diseases. On 28 September, it published a proposal for Council recommendations to support Member States in identifying risk factors at an early stage and expanding preventive healthcare services.

The recommendations had already been announced in the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan (“Safe Hearts Plan”) in December 2025. Their publication coincided with the first-ever “EU Screening Week”, held from 28 September to 4 October. While Council recommendations are not legally binding, they can provide political impetus for national health policies.

Commission calls for regular health checks

The Commission has set ambitious targets: by 2035, premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases should be reduced by 25 percent. To achieve this, it proposes, among other measures, specific annual screening targets for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose measurements. In future, a large proportion of the adult population should be regularly screened for these risk factors.

At the same time, health checks should become more accessible. Particular attention should be paid to people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and population groups that are difficult to reach. In addition to medical practices, pharmacies, community centres and mobile services could also be used to provide health checks.

The annex to the Commission proposal also provides for regular health checks at age-dependent intervals. Further examinations should be based on an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

DSV calls for evidence-based early detection

DSV welcomes the objective of strengthening the early detection of cardiovascular diseases. However, in its previous position papers on the Safe Hearts Plan and the call for evidence on health checks, DSV emphasised that examinations must be evidence-based, risk-oriented and focused on demonstrable benefits for patients.

DSV is critical of blanket annual screening targets. More examinations do not automatically translate into greater benefits. Instead, they may also entail risks such as overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

In Germany, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) initiated deliberations on 15 October to review existing preventive health examinations. These are based on an evidence assessment by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). The findings could lead to a fundamental revision of preventive health examinations in Germany, potentially resulting in an approach that differs from the European targets.

From DSV's perspective, it is therefore essential that Member States retain sufficient flexibility in setting screening targets.

Next steps

Discussions have already begun in the Council. On 14 and 22 October, the Council Working Party on Public Health discussed the Commission proposal. Member States aim to adopt the Council recommendations at the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on 8 December.