Novartis is expanding three community-based programs to improve access to heart disease and cancer care, with plans to scale from 11 to more than 30 countries by 2030, including new U.S. city initiatives and global CARDIO4Cities rollout
Written by: Dillikumari. A, BPharm
Reviewed by: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Novartis announced an expansion of its community-based programs aimed at improving access to heart disease and cancer care in underserved populations worldwide. The initiative comes as progress against chronic diseases slows in several countries, with many patients in low-income, rural, and hard-to-reach communities missing early detection and treatment opportunities.
The company plans to scale three complementary approaches focused on closing gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and follow-up care. These programs will expand from 11 countries today to more than 30 countries by 2030 through partnerships with community organizations, health authorities, and private sector stakeholders.
Inclusive Health Accelerators Launch in U.S. Cities
Novartis is introducing Inclusive Health Accelerators (IHAs), a new community-based model designed to improve access to breast and prostate cancer care. The initiative is launching in five U.S. cities: New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston, and Baltimore.
The IHAs focus on increasing disease awareness, expanding access to screening, and strengthening referral pathways for follow-up care. The program aims to reach under-served populations through locally tailored partnerships that provide education, free screenings, diagnosis, and coordinated care. These efforts build on existing U.S. collaborations addressing cardiovascular disease, including the Health Assessments and Rapid Transformation (HEART) program developed with Meharry Medical College’s School of Global Health.
Community Health Initiatives Expand in Emerging Economies
Novartis also plans to expand its Community Health Initiatives (CHIs), which aim to accelerate diagnosis and treatment for heart disease and cancer in low- and middle-income countries. The programs are currently active in Vietnam, Rwanda, and Bolivia, with expansion planned to at least 10 countries by 2030.
The CHI model seeks to reach patients beyond traditional healthcare access points. In rural Vietnam, the approach has already doubled hypertension control rates and improved treatment initiation closer to patients’ communities, demonstrating the potential impact of localized care delivery.
CARDIO4Cities Targets Urban Heart Health
The third component, CARDIO4Cities, developed by the Novartis Foundation, uses real-time data, artificial intelligence, and multi-sector partnerships to improve cardiometabolic disease management in urban settings. The program is currently active in eight countries and aims to expand to cities in 23 countries by 2030.
The approach focuses on prevention, early detection, and management of conditions such as hypertension. According to program data, implementation has been associated with three- to six-fold increases in hypertension control, along with reductions in stroke and heart attack rates within one to two years. Current participating cities include São Paulo and Fortaleza in Brazil, New York City in the United States, Leuven in Belgium, Lisbon in Portugal, Helsinki in Finland, as well as locations in Brunei, Singapore, and Sydney.
Leadership Perspective
Michelle Weese, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Novartis emphasized the need for new approaches to address widening gaps in chronic disease care. The company stated that millions of patients continue to miss opportunities for treatment as progress slows globally, highlighting the urgency of sustainable community-based solutions to improve access to heart disease and cancer care.
Across all three initiatives, Novartis teams will collaborate with local partners to expand prevention services, improve early detection, strengthen referral systems, and enhance follow-up care, with the broader goal of reducing disparities in chronic disease outcomes by 2030.
References
Novartis announces expansion of community health programs to close gaps in heart disease and cancer care, targeting more than 30 countries by 2030, 09 April 2026, https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-announces-expansion-community-health-programs-close-gaps-heart-disease-and-cancer-care-targeting-more-30-countries-2030
About the Writer
DilliKumari is a Pharmacy graduate based in Ariyur, Puducherry. She has a strong interest in pharmacovigilance and is particularly drawn to data analysis within the healthcare field. She is known for her willingness to learn and continuously improve, with a keen attention to detail that sometimes leads her to spend extra time refining her work.