World Heart Day sparks call for a ‘real shift’ in priorities and mindset, say Advara Heartcare and Heart Support Australia leaders

Coinciding with World Heart Day 2025, the theme Don’t Miss a Beat strikes a chord far beyond its clever wordplay. It reflects the urgency and complexity of the leading cause of death impacting the nation: cardiovascular disease.

Dr David O’Donnell, Electrophysiologist and CEO of Advara Heartcare, and Dr Christian Verdicchio, CEO of Heart Support Australia and Head of Corporate Affairs & Strategy at Advara Heartcare, bring together perspectives that blend the clinical, strategic, and patient advocacy lenses. Their discussion moves seamlessly from the ESC and CSANZ congresses to the realities of everyday care in Australia, where patients often face significant barriers to care.

Delays in Australia’s reimbursement pathways, including the Prescribed List (PL) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), continue to impact equitable access to innovative health technologies. At the same time, both public and private hospitals are facing mounting pressures around viability and care delivery. Against this backdrop, the two leaders argue that the solutions can’t simply come from more funding alone.

Advara Heartcare’s unique national footprint is presented as one example of how a different model of care can widen patient access, while also creating expanded opportunities to bring clinical trials closer to communities across the country. Layered throughout the podcast is a call for policy and system reform, and a clear reminder of why not missing a beat is about much more than just individual heart health.

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