Global pharma powerhouse Novartis has announced a major global expansion of its efforts to identify and treat patients with heart disease and cancer in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, as progress against chronic illnesses slows or even reverses in many countries.

 

The pharmaceutical company said it will scale three community-focused health programs from 11 countries to more than 30 by 2030, targeting gaps in prevention, diagnosis and treatment for low-income, rural and vulnerable populations.

 

“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.”

 

At the center of the expansion are three initiatives:

 

Inclusive Health Accelerators (IHAs), a new community-based model launching this week across five U.S. cities, aims to close gaps in breast and prostate cancer care through awareness campaigns, expanded screening access and stronger referral pathways for follow-up treatment.

 

Community Health Initiatives (CHIs), designed to accelerate diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and cancer in emerging economies, will expand to at least 10 low- and middle-income countries. The program is already operating in Vietnam, Rwanda and Bolivia, working outside traditional healthcare channels to reach patients earlier and more consistently.

 

CARDIO4Cities, developed by the Novartis Foundation, uses real-time data to help cities tackle cardiovascular disease and reduce health inequalities. It is set to scale across cities in 23 countries.

 

Each program will rely on partnerships between Novartis teams and local networks—including health authorities, community organizations and private sector groups—to expand prevention, strengthen early detection, and speed up referrals to specialist care.

 

In the United States, the new IHA model will first roll out in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston and Baltimore. 

 

The initiative focuses on improving education, providing free screenings, and ensuring patients are guided into diagnosis and follow-up care through localized partnerships. It builds on existing efforts such as the HEART program, developed with the School of Global Health at Meharry Medical College, aimed at tackling cardiovascular disease.

 

In low- and middle-income countries, early results from CHIs have shown measurable impact, including a partnership in rural Vietnam that doubled control rates for high blood pressure and increased treatment uptake closer to patients’ communities.