The HFPN developed this case study for the first global summit of the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience, which took place on 15–19 March 2021. The Partnership was founded by the World Economic Forum, London School of Economics and Political Science, and AstraZeneca
COVID-19 has tested health systems to and beyond their limits, exposing long-standing problems in cardiovascular care. The pandemic is likely to increase the demand on heart failure services even further. People with pre-existing heart failure are at high risk of deterioration when infected with COVID-19 and the virus may also cause heart failure in previously healthy people, leading to a ‘hidden’ cohort of new cases.
Heart failure is the main cause of preventable hospitalisations in Europe. Hospitalisations and inpatient care account for almost 90% of healthcare costs associated with heart failure. This case study argues that prioritising heart failure can help improve health system sustainability and resilience by reducing hospitalisations.
The case study builds on existing recommendations from the HFPN. It focuses on sustainability and resilience in five domains of the health system: governance; financing; service delivery; medications and technology; political support and public acceptability.
Health system governance
Health system financing
Service delivery
Medications and technology
Political support and public acceptability
The case study was produced by The Health Policy Partnership, HFPN secretariat, pro bono.