The APAC Heart Failure White Paper Launch Webinar on 8 October 2025 convened leading experts, healthcare professionals, patients and patient advocacy groups from across the region to address one of Asia Pacific’s most pressing health challenges — heart failure, a condition affecting more than 30 million people and placing growing pressure on families, health systems, and economies.
The white paper, developed through a joint effort between Deloitte and the APAC CVD Alliance, combines rigorous research and expert insights from across Asia Pacific. It seeks to identify key gaps in heart failure policy and management, and to present actionable opportunities for governments, health systems, and stakeholders to drive meaningful, long-term impact.
Opening Remarks
Dr. Krishna Reddy, Cardiologist and Representative of the APAC CVD Alliance, reiterated the broader mission of the APAC CVD Alliance, launched in 2023 to address the growing burden of cardiovascular disease and its unmet needs in the region.
“The Alliance aims to convene diverse stakeholders — from researchers and clinicians to patient organizations and policymakers — to present evidence and crystallize actionable solutions,” Dr. Reddy noted.
Key Findings and Regional Insights of White Paper
The report presented a scorecard assessment of the heart failure landscape across the region, structured around five key domains:
- Policy and planning
- Prevention and screening
- Diagnosis and resource capacity
- Treatment and access
- Awareness and education
High-income economies demonstrated stronger frameworks and treatment access but still face gaps in prevention and screening. Meanwhile, middle-income economies such as China and Thailand continue to contend with infrastructure and access challenges, underscoring the need for tailored, context-specific strategies.
The white paper also revealed persistent underutilization of early detection tools and low adherence to evidence-based therapies, calling for stronger systems of care and patient engagement.
Case Studies: Lessons from Taiwan and Japan
Case studies from Taiwan and Japan offered practical examples of how national-level strategies can make a difference.
Professor Chung-Lieh Hung, MD, PhD Professor, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical University and Director of HF and Imaging Division presented outcomes from the Heart Failure Prevention Program (HFPP) in Taiwan, which provides multidisciplinary post-acute care for six months. The program demonstrated significant improvements in mortality and hospitalization rates, driven by greater adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).
“The Taiwan Heart Failure Program shows how coordinated national efforts and adherence to guideline-directed therapy can transform outcomes, reducing deaths and hospitalizations while strengthening the standard of care.” Professor Hung highlighted.
Professor Koichiro Kinugawa, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine, University of Toyama and President of Japanese Heart Failure Society highlighted Japan’s aging population and rising prevalence of heart failure among older adults — with half of patients now over 80 years old. He emphasized the importance of early detection using BNP and NT-proBNP biomarkers, and continued efforts to refine outpatient management and intervention.
“We must act proactively to prevent heart failure itself. Early detection of stage B pre-heart failure, through regular monitoring of BNP or NT-proBNP levels in patients with common conditions may help reduce future incidence of heart failure,” Professor Kinugawa emphasized.
Moving from Evidence to Action
Looking ahead, the Alliance outlined plans to translate these insights into national policy dialogues and action plans. Country-specific heart failure policy roundtables are being planned in Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam to continue momentum from the report.
A Call for Continued Collaboration
In closing, speakers emphasized the importance of converting evidence into policy attention and practical change, highlighting the role of collaboration in achieving sustainable progress.
Kavita Rekhraj, Life Sciences & Health Care Leader, Deloitte Asia Pacific & Southeast Asia concluded the session by emphasizing that heart failure is not a short-term or seasonal concern, but a persistent reality that continues to affect communities across the region. She noted that many of us have heard about heart failure, and some may have even seen its impact firsthand among those we care about. Now is the time to act – to work together to strengthen prevention, enable early detection, and improve the management and monitoring of heart failure, paving the way toward a healthier and brighter future for all.
The APAC CVD Alliance would like to thank all participants and speakers for their continued support and partnership.
If you missed the webinar, watch it here. Learn more about heart failure and the roadmap for change here.
