Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the cause of over 4.3 million deaths in the World Health Organisation European Region and around 1.9 million deaths in the European Union member states alone. They are also the number-one cause of death in Poland. In 2010 CVDs accounted for 46% of all deaths, and in 2013 — 45.8%.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of the tasks of local government units in the area of preventive healthcare and health promotion on the basis of health policy programmes concerning CVD.

Methods: The study was based on a desk research. The data included in the annual reports submitted to the Minister of Health concerning completed health policy programmes concerned with CVD, was used.

Results: A total of 795 programmes were completed in 2009–2014. The greatest number of programmes were completed by municipalities followed by counties. The costs incurred by voivodeships in connection with the programmes were significantly higher compared to the costs paid by municipalities and counties. Diagnostic programmes accounted for 74% of the overall number of programmes, and preventive programmes made up only 24%. The greatest number of programmes were completed in Mazowieckie and Swietokrzyskie voivodeships. The smallest number of programmes were completed in Lubelskie, Lubuskie, and Podlaskie voivodeships.

Conclusions: Insignificant involvement of local government units can be seen in the fight against CVD. Particular types of local government units demonstrate a varied degree of involvement in the performance of health policy programmes. The small number of preventive programmes points to the fragmentary completion of tasks concerned with preventive healthcare and health promotion. Some of the voivodeships failed to properly address the health needs of local communities in respect of CVD. More programmes need to be completed, and they need to cover more people. Some guidelines should be developed for local government units concerning their involvement in the fight against CVD.