[Health Policy] HEARTS quality: a policy framework to strengthen hypertension and cardiovascular risk management in primary healthcare—insights from HEARTS in the Americas

HEARTS in the Americas is the largest-scale implementation of the WHO's global initiative, with 33 countries participating, 28 having adopted standardized clinical pathways, and about 10,000 primary healthcare facilities engaged. Despite progress, fragmented care, limited availability of validated blood pressure devices, restricted access to essential medicines, and weak quality assurance systems continue to hinder hypertension control and cardiovascular risk management. In response, PAHO and participating countries co-developed the HEARTS Quality Framework.