International Day for Interventional Cardiology2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/76/302
About International Day for Interventional Cardiology
The International Day for Interventional Cardiology is observed on 16 September. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day through resolution A/RES/76/302, adopted on 2 September 2022.
The observance raises awareness of cardiovascular disease and minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used in interventional cardiology, while emphasizing prevention, access to care and appropriate health-system capacity.
Why International Day for Interventional Cardiology matters
Interventional cardiology includes catheter-based procedures that can diagnose or treat cardiovascular disease without some forms of open surgery. These procedures sit within a larger continuum that includes prevention, emergency response, medication, rehabilitation and long-term care.
The day is most useful when public awareness avoids turning a specialist procedure into a universal answer and instead promotes timely diagnosis, evidence-based prevention and equitable access to appropriate cardiovascular care.
History of International Day for Interventional Cardiology
Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Mongolia, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia submitted draft resolution A/76/L.77, with Argentina introducing the proposal in the General Assembly.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/302 without a vote on 2 September 2022 and proclaimed 16 September as the International Day for Interventional Cardiology. The resolution invites the World Health Organization to facilitate implementation of the day.
The date is historically grounded: the resolution and UN observance material note that Dr Andreas Grüntzig performed the first coronary angioplasty on 16 September 1977 in Zurich.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Argentina-led proposal; draft submitted by Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Mongolia, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia
The UN Digital Library identifies the ten authors of A/76/L.77, and UN meeting coverage records Argentina introducing the proposal.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/76/302
World Health Organization (WHO)
A/RES/76/302 explicitly invites WHO to facilitate implementation of the International Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day for Interventional Cardiology
Learn the major warning signs of heart attack and stroke from authoritative public-health sources and know the emergency response in your location.
Review how cardiovascular prevention—such as tobacco control, blood-pressure management, physical activity and appropriate clinical care—fits alongside interventional procedures.
If organizing a professional event, explain indications, benefits, limits and risks of procedures in patient-accessible language.
Use the day to examine inequities in access to emergency cardiac care, catheterization facilities, trained specialists and follow-up treatment.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology Facts
The observance is held annually on 16 September.
Ten countries submitted the original General Assembly draft A/76/L.77, led in debate by Argentina.
The General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/302 on 2 September 2022.
The resolution invites the World Health Organization to facilitate implementation of the observance.
16 September was selected because the first coronary angioplasty was performed on that date in 1977.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology Messages
Marking International Day for Interventional Cardiology with care means learning from credible sources and making space for the voices and experiences of people most affected.
Today, may International Day for Interventional Cardiology turn attention into informed action, empathy and support that lasts beyond a single day.
On International Day for Interventional Cardiology, may awareness be matched by compassion, reliable information and practical support for people directly affected.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology is a reminder to listen without stigma, share trustworthy information and treat every person with dignity.
On International Day for Interventional Cardiology, appreciate clinical teams working to improve evidence-based care for heart and vascular conditions.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology Quotes
“Interventional cardio-angiology improves health, increases life expectancy and improves the quality of life.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — draft A/76/L.77 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — A/RES/76/302 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — Argentina introduction / date rationale (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day for Interventional Cardiology (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day for Interventional Cardiology?
16 September The documented recurrence rule is: 16 September.
Does International Day for Interventional Cardiology fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day for Interventional Cardiology an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day for Interventional Cardiology?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Argentina-led proposal; draft submitted by Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Mongolia, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Health Organization (WHO).
Is International Day for Interventional Cardiology international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is the International Day for Interventional Cardiology on 16 September?
The establishing resolution notes that Dr Andreas Grüntzig performed the first coronary angioplasty on 16 September 1977.
Who facilitates the International Day for Interventional Cardiology?
A/RES/76/302 invites the World Health Organization to facilitate implementation of the day.
When was the day established?
The UN General Assembly adopted A/RES/76/302 on 2 September 2022.
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