Butterfly Network, Inc.
Butterfly Network is an innovative digital healthcare company, operating in multiple EU Member States, that aims to create sustainable healthcare solutions and increase access to and use of medical ultrasound services wherever care is being delivered (including remote areas with limited healthcare resources and infrastructure), through a combination of ultrasound technology, intuitive software, services and educational offerings.
ID: 527322193104-21
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU cardiovascular health plan
15 Sept 2025
Butterfly Network, a digital health and medical device company, warmly welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. We are deeply invested in advancing healthcare accessibility and efficiency. Butterfly Network therefore advocates a paradigm shift in cardiovascular care. This shift prioritizes proactive health management through enhanced prevention, early detection, and patient empowerment. It also reduces inequalities in access to diagnostic capabilities, including in the most remote and peripheral regions of the EU. Our vision aligns with the Plans objectives to improve citizens health, foster innovation, and strengthen the EUs health industry. Cardiovascular and pulmonary ultrasound (POCUS) is an evidence-based bedside tool for evaluating suspected structural and cardiopulmonary conditions and the causes of dyspnea. Enabling cardiovascular and pulmonary POCUS at the point of care in primary, community, and emergency settings accelerates triage and referral [14] and supports the appropriate use of downstream specialist resources for definitive assessment [5]. Reducing inequalities requires moving beyond centralized, referral-dependent pathways. High-quality, portable POCUS in frontline workflows enables earlier identification of LV/RV dysfunction, significant valvular disease, pulmonary air-space disease, effusions, and volume overload. When these conditions are missed, avoidable admissions increase. Continuous, non-invasive monitoring should also be recognized for proactive, personalized care where appropriate. Optimized diagnostic pathways ease pressure on overstretched systems. Point-of-care insights reduce avoidable referrals and infrastructure use. This streamlines patient journeys and improves resource allocation. A digital-first approach to diagnostics is important. Integration with existing health IT, data interoperability, and robust compliance with EU regulations will accelerate transformation. Building the digital literacy and diagnostic capabilities of healthcare professionals is essential. This includes standardized training, competency verification, and quality assurance to support safe and scalable adoption [5]. Innovation should advance the EUs green and digital transition. The health sector contributes an estimated 4.4 to 5.2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Prioritizing low-footprint diagnostics can reduce avoidable transport and energy-intensive imaging when it is not clinically necessary [6]. Green public procurement should reward compliance with RoHS limits, energy efficiency, durability and repairability, and circularity. Recommended actions for the Plan 1. Strengthen primary-care diagnostic capacity. Invest in portable POCUS in community and outpatient care, with targeted early-detection pathways for at-risk adults, for example age 50+ or those with cardiometabolic risk [14]. 2. Improve emergency and acute cardiovascular care. Standardize cardiovascular and lung POCUS protocols for undifferentiated dyspnea, chest pain, and shock. Support cross-border cooperation and mobile diagnostic units where access is inconsistent [3]. 3. Prioritize essential diagnostics in EU stockpiling. Allocate tenders to essential cardiovascular diagnostics to bolster preparedness, equitable access, and resilience. Decentralize diagnostics so first-line assessment remains available during crises. 4. Prioritize green and sustainable technologies in procurement. Incentivize adoption of low-footprint portable imaging, such as handheld ultrasound, to reduce reliance on high-energy infrastructure and minimize patient travel [6]. Butterfly Network will be delighted to share its strategic insights and experience in democratizing and scaling advanced diagnostic capabilities. We look forward to collaborating with the European Commission and all stakeholders to achieve a healthier future for Europe. Please find all references in the attached.
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