The EPCCS, a WONCA special interest group (WESIG) met in October 2025 in Prague to discuss the GPcardio plan, dedicated to supporting General Practitioners and Primary Care providers in delivering the highest standard of cardiovascular care. The GPcardio plan, as an initiative of the EPCCS is focussed around Five Pillars, driving innovation and excellence across the field: EXCHANGE – PRACTICE – RESEARCH – EDUCATION - COLLABORATION
EPCCS Board & Council is connecting primary care societies from multiple European societies. Their core mission is to exchange expertise, experience, and best practice to enrich primary care cardiology across Europe. By actively contributing to European guidance and championing its adoption, the Council and Board ensure that the latest knowledge and standards are effectively implemented within their respective societies and countries. This collaborative effort is fundamental to advancing high-quality primary cardiac care continent-wide.
EPCCS Practice Guidance will bridge the gap between specialist and generalist knowledge. Specialist guidelines are often detailed and comprehensive. They are designed for specialists who operate within a hospital setting with access to advanced diagnostic tools and a focused patient population.
For general practitioners (GPs), who manage a wide range of conditions, this level of detail can be overwhelming and not always directly applicable to their daily practice. The EPCCS Practice Guidance do not aim to replace specialist guidelines but instead act as a crucial translator, distilling complex, evidence-based recommendations into clear, concise, and actionable guidance specifically for the primary care setting.
The EPCCS guidance are aimed to empower Primary Care with the tools and confidence to effectively implement preventive strategies. By translating complex risk scores and lifestyle recommendations into simple, easy-to-use formats, the documents could help GPs to more accurately assess a patient's risk and initiate appropriate interventions.
To ensure clinical relevance and accuracy, Specialist Societies will be actively involved in the development of all our practice guidance. This collaboration guarantees that the information is both authoritative and practical for the primary care setting.
In 2026 we aniticipate to Launching the European Primary Care Cardiovascular Journal. This journal will be designed to be the central portal for all relevant scientific and clinical research specifically focused on primary care and cardiovascular disease. Our Aims:
The Journal represents a significant step in our commitment to evidence-based practice and knowledge dissemination for General Practitioners across Europe.
We are dedicated to supporting continuous professional development and are pleased to provide updated information on our core educational activities, like: EPCCS Annual Cardiovascular Scientific Summit. Our annual Cardiovascular Scientific Summit serves as an opportunity for scientific exchange between differennt countries and specialties. This meeting brings together the primary care community with an interest in cardio related diseases, to review clinical advancements and discuss practical implementation strategies for the latest evidence.
Regular Symposia and Webcasting We regularly facilitate symposia, including those held at significant international meetings such as WONCA and other relevant conferences. To maximize accessibility, we provide regular webcasting of these sessions, ensuring that practitioners can access key takeaways and discussions, regardless of their location. Dedicated Online Learning Stay tuned as we are planning to provide an independent online learning environment. Modules to be developed provide targeted education, translating complex cardiovascualr, rfenal and metabolic guidelines into digestible and actionable knowledge specifically for primary care professionals.
These activities collectively aim to provide relevant and current professional education to support GPs in delivering optimal cardiovascular care.
Strategic Collaborations and Alliances. EPCCS recognizes that advancing primary cardiac care requires strong partnerships across the medical community. We are committed to fostering collaborations that bridge the gap between specialist and general practice.
Active Professional Partnerships: The EPCCS is actively establishing professional partnerships with different relevant societies, ensuring our work is aligned with the highest clinical and scientific standards. These partners include:
We have recently become a member of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH). This crucial alliance allows us to contribute to broader policy and advocacy efforts, ensuring the voice of primary care in cardiology is heard at the European level.
These collaborations are essential to improving the continuity of care and promoting the optimal management of cardiovascular disease.
