Apr 09, 2026

• Strengthens three community health models spanning community‑embedded care, earlier intervention and data‑driven population health
• Scales program footprint from 11 countries to more than 30 by 2030, including across five cities in the U.S.
• Builds on pilot programs that demonstrated significant increase in control rates for high blood pressure in pilot settings

Basel, April 9, 2026 – Novartis announced the expansion of its programs to find and treat patients with heart disease and cancer in hard-to-reach communities around the world. This comes as public health efforts against chronic diseases slow or reverse in many countries.1 Three distinct Novartis community health approaches focused on closing gaps in care for low-income, rural and other communities will nearly triple from 11 to more than 30 countries by 2030, including:

• Inclusive Health Accelerators (IHAs): a new community-based initiative launching across five U.S. cities this week, which aims to close gaps in access to breast and prostate cancer care communities through disease awareness, better access to screening and referrals for follow‑up care
• Community Health Initiatives (CHIs): programs to speed up diagnosis and treatment for heart disease and cancer in emerging economies will be expanded to at least 10 low- and middle-income countries
• CARDIO4Cities: an approach harnessing real-time data to help cities improve heart health and narrow health disparities, developed by the Novartis Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, plans to roll out across cities in 23 countries

“We are going further to bring heart disease and cancer care to communities falling through the gaps in health systems,” said Michelle Weese, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Novartis. “With progress slowing against chronic disease in many countries, and millions missing out on potential treatment, there is an urgent need for new, sustainable solutions to improve access to care.”

Click here to join our WhatsApp channel here

Each program will involve Novartis teams working together with a distinct network of local groups – including community organizations, health authorities and private businesses – to increase access to prevention and early detection services, improve follow-up care, and speed up the referral process for specialist treatment.

In the U.S., Novartis is launching its community-driven IHA model designed to boost early detection of prostate and breast cancer and address gaps in care among under-reached populations. Beginning in five cities New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston, and Baltimore the IHAs aim to improve access to education, free screenings, diagnosis, and follow‑up care through tailored and local partnerships.

In low- and middle-income countries, Novartis Global Health unit is currently running CHIs in Vietnam, Rwanda and Bolivia to reach patients beyond conventional commercial channels, with expansion planned to at least seven more countries by 2030. The model builds on a successful partnership in rural Vietnam that doubled control rates for high blood pressure and helped more people start treatment closer to their communities.2

Click here to join our WhatsApp channel hereAlso tread: Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi and MIT Solve announce five finalists in the Future Health Challenge 2026