Chronic diseases account for 87.2% of all deaths in China. Deaths from cardiovascular disease outnumber deaths from tumors and other diseases, accounting for more than 40% of deaths from diseases. The death rate from cardiovascular disease in China continues to climb.

Ge Junbo, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and President of the China Cardiovascular Association, said: "The overall improvement of cardiovascular disease awareness and scientific prevention and control in China is urgent."

According to the latest figures from the National Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, there are 290 million people with cardiovascular disease in China, including 270 million with hypertension, 11 million with coronary heart disease and 10 million with heart failure.

Huo Yong with the Heart Center of the First Hospital at Peking University and vice president of the association, said: "The cardiovascular disease family not only causes patients endless pain, but also creates a huge burden on patients’families as well as the society."

In order to curb the problem and promote the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the association and Servier China signed a strategic cooperation agreement for hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. They will carry out four major cooperative projects to improve the overall disease prevention and control.

Some studies have confirmed that the application of new internet technology can greatly improve the blood pressure compliance. Facing the current situation of low blood pressure compliance in China, the association has joined hands with Servier China to launch the E?START – China blood pressure control project for Chinese hypertension patients.

The internet will be used to carry out blood pressure investigation, provide patient education and drug guidance, strengthen the concept of medical blood pressure management, help patients with high blood pressure to reach acceptable standards, and improve the compliance rate.

Sun Ningling from the Department of Cardiology at Peking University People's Hospital said at the launch ceremony: "Through Jingdong and WeChat, two major Chinese internet application platforms, the E-START project will be a full closed-loop or semi-closed-loop model for patient consultation, prescriptions, drug purchase, patient education and patient teaching and other links. It will explore the mechanism to optimize patient management."

One thousand doctors will enter the Jingdong internet hospital or E?START project exclusive to a WeChat public account, using live and educational classrooms to address 20,000 people with hypertension, reminding them to take medication, receive follow-up and record blood pre

Servier's partnership with the China Cardiovascular Association dates back four years to the founding of the China Cardiovascular Association. The patient-first concept has become the cornerstone of close cooperation between the two sides and brought health benefits to patients with cardiovascular disease. At the meeting and in recognition of the 40 years of commitment, Ge and Huo, respectively, conferred the titles of "Outstanding contribution to cardiovascular disease prevention and public welfare enterprises in China" and "Pioneer of public welfare in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China" to Stephane Mascarau, General Manager of Servier China.

He became the first foreign charity ambassador for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China.

Mascarau said: "Servier is one of the first multinational pharmaceutical companies to enter China and in 2019 we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our activities in the country. The honors given to us by the China Cardiovascular Association offer recognition and encouragement, making Servier China's 40th anniversary an even more historic moment."

"Servier China acknowledged the challenges facing China today with increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. As a company we are fully committed to supporting initiatives that raise disease awareness and control in order to improve the quality and length of life for patients suffering with these debilitating and chronic conditions. We are very grateful to the China Cardiovascular Association for providing us the opportunity to continue our work together," he added.