On the occasion of World Heart Day, the Patient Union of Greece, in strategic partnership with the Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industries (PEF), has launched the nationwide awareness and education campaign “From the Heart.”
The campaign kicks off today and will run through April 2027, combining free cardiovascular risk screenings, guidance from healthcare professionals, and institutional events focused on prevention policies. The first open public event will take place in Peristeri on October 22, 2026.
The initiative targets individuals at elevated cardiovascular risk, people with chronic conditions and comorbidities, those who are overweight or obese, caregivers, families, and younger age groups within the framework of primary prevention — with healthcare professionals and local communities also playing a vital role.
The significance of cardiovascular prevention is underscored by data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT): in 2023, Greece recorded 40,812 deaths from circulatory system diseases, accounting for approximately 31.9% of all deaths. Raising awareness about risk factors, ensuring their early identification and management, and encouraging daily heart-healthy habits are at the core of this campaign.
A lifetime of experience becomes a message for the next generation
The creative concept behind “From the Heart” is built on intergenerational communication. Older individuals share simple heart health tips with younger generations, drawing from personal experience and everyday life. Each piece of advice becomes a personal commitment, linked to specific choices around prevention, balanced nutrition, physical activity, and stress management.
With the central message “Make your heart a priority!”, the campaign encourages citizens to stay informed, speak with their doctor, and integrate prevention into their daily routines. Each individual pillar of the campaign has its own voice, transforming simple advice into personal commitment:
- Prevention: “Listen to your heart” → “I listen to my heart”
- Nutrition: “Make your heart a garden” → “I make my heart a garden”
- Exercise: “Dance with your heart” → “I dance with my heart”
- Stress management: “Open your heart” → “I open my heart”
Through this positive, intergenerational approach, the campaign delivers a simple but powerful message: caring for your heart is built day by day, through small and consistent choices — regular preventive check-ups, a doctor’s advice, balanced nutrition, physical activity, and managing everyday stress.
What begins as advice from an elder becomes a first-person commitment for the younger generation, while the red heart symbol and the colon serve as symbols of continuity: the message passes from generation to generation, and knowledge is transformed into everyday preventive action.
A strategic alliance for cardiovascular health
The strategic partnership between the Patient Union of Greece and the Panhellenic Union of Pharmaceutical Industries — two key stakeholders in the healthcare sector — bridges the conversation on cardiovascular prevention with direct community engagement. PEF contributes to the dialogue on prevention and treatment adherence, representing an industry with a decisive role in ensuring the availability and uninterrupted supply of medicines, as well as in strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the healthcare system.
The Patient Union, as an institutional partner of the State in health policy and patients’ rights, highlights the needs and barriers faced by citizens and advocates for their meaningful participation in the design of health policies. By drawing on patient experience and collaboration with its member associations, the Union formulates evidence-based proposals to strengthen prevention, health literacy, and equitable access to healthcare services.
Open community events across Greece
Local events will be organized by the Patient Union of Greece, with the support of the Skeletal Health Association “Petaluda,” which has extensive experience in nationwide awareness, prevention, and free screening initiatives.
Citizens will have the opportunity to receive free cardiovascular risk screenings, brief consultations with healthcare professionals, and take part in experiential and interactive activities focused on physical activity and healthy living. Printed and digital informational materials will also be available.
Events will be supported by communications across digital and traditional media, as well as educational content through the “Health Literacy” platform, with an emphasis on understanding health information and applying it to everyday decisions.
Anonymous data will also be collected during local events to map awareness and prevention needs. The findings will be used to inform health policy proposals, bringing the experience of local communities into the institutional dialogue.
Campaign schedule
September 29, 2026 – Athens: Launch event at the National Historical Museum – the Old Parliament Building, marking World Heart Day.
October 22, 2026 – Peristeri: First open field event at Peristeri Town Hall, from 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Participation is free and all citizens are invited to attend, get informed, and take part in prevention activities.
November 2026 – Thessaloniki: Institutional event with the participation of government representatives, the scientific community, patients, healthcare professionals, and local organizations.
November 2026 – Kalamaria: Open field event focused on public awareness and education.
January–February 2027 – Patras and Larissa: Institutional events centered on prevention and more effective management of cardiovascular risk.
February–March 2027 – Kalamata and Trikala: Open field events bringing the prevention message to local communities.
Under the auspices of
The launch event is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, the Hellenic Cardiological Society, the Hellenic Society of Hypertension, the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society, and the Hellenic Diabetes Association.
