Brussels, Belgium – July 3, 2026 – Leading radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, policymakers and patient representatives gathered yesterday at the European Parliament for Imaging Saves Lives: The Role of Imaging in Improving Cardiovascular Health, hosted by MEP Romana Jerković, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health and Chair of the MEP Group on Cardiovascular Health. The event highlighted the essential role of medical imaging in delivering the objectives of the European Union’s Safe Hearts Plan.
Co-organised by the European Society of Radiology (ESR) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM), the event focused on how medical imaging can strengthen prevention, enable earlier diagnosis and support more personalised treatment for cardiovascular disease, Europe’s leading cause of death.
The programme brought together European policymakers including Vytenis Andriukaitis, MEP and former EU Health Commissioner, clinical experts, d patients and industry representatives to discuss how radiology can support implementation of the Safe Hearts Plan across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The discussions were underpinned by a new ESR policy briefing launched at the occasion of the event.
“The Safe Hearts Plan marks a historic shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention,” said Prof. Mathias Prokop, ESR President. “To deliver on that ambition, Europe must ensure patients have access to high-quality medical imaging and to the radiologists whose expertise transforms scans into confident clinical decisions.”
During the session on clinical practice, experts demonstrated how modern imaging technologies are already transforming patient care by enabling faster diagnosis, reducing unnecessary procedures and supporting multidisciplinary decision-making.
“Cardiovascular imaging turns uncertainty into certainty,” said Prof. Rodrigo Salgado, President of the European Society of Cardiovascular Radiology. “Behind every scan is a radiologist ensuring the examination is appropriate, performed safely and interpreted accurately. Radiologists are uniquely trained to optimise image acquisition, ensure quality and safety, and provide the comprehensive interpretation that clinicians rely on. That expertise enables clinicians to make the right treatment decisions and gives patients the best chance of better outcomes.”
The event also highlighted the importance of the patient perspective. Through personal testimonies, attendees heard how timely imaging can change lives by identifying disease before irreversible damage occurs.
“At first, my cardiac scan looked almost completely normal. But my radiologist wanted certainty. He asked me to repeat the examination, and the second scan revealed what the first had almost missed. Because one doctor looked a little closer, I am still here,” said Christel Put, who shared her experience during the event.
MEP Jerkovic expressed her appreciation for the high-level, multidisciplinary representation, recognised the importance and innovation potential of medical imaging in cardiovascular care, and called for the collaborative spirit of the event to continue to turn the ambition of the Safe Hearts Plan into reality for Europe’s citizens.
The programme concluded with a panel discussion bringing together representatives from the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU, Member States, professional medical societies and healthcare stakeholders to discuss how imaging should be integrated into the implementation of the Safe Hearts Plan and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.
The ESR reiterated its commitment to supporting European institutions and Member States with scientific expertise, evidence-based recommendations and professional guidance. As the Safe Hearts Plan moves from strategy to implementation, the ESR stands ready to work with policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to ensure radiologists and medical imaging are fully integrated into delivering better cardiovascular care across Europe.
About the European Society of Radiology
The European Society of Radiology (ESR) is the world’s largest and most influential radiology organisations, dedicated to advancing medical imaging for improved patient care. With more than 149,000 membersworldwide, ESR promotes education, research, and innovation in radiology. The society organises the annual European Congress of Radiology (ECR, one of the world’s leading medical imaging meetings, bringing together professionals from across the globe.