A Manifesto for Better Respiratory Health
The International Respiratory Coalition (IRC), a coalition of respiratory clinicians, patients and industry partners, aims to transform post-pandemic respiratory care and reduce respiratory disease-related mortality by a third globally by 2030 – in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here are some of the global facts:
- Respiratory disease is a leading cause of death and disability.
- 2.73 billion people affected by respiratory diseases.
- €1.4 trillion benchmark societal cost in Europe.
- 263,000 people by lower respiratory infection.
- 468 million living with chronic conditions.
- 15.7 million people die prematurely each year.
The most shocking finding about this huge burden of disease, is that a significant proportion of it is preventable, but not enough is being done, progress has stalled and only limited strategies or plans have been established to drive improvement. As the world looks to strengthen the resilience of health care systems post COVID-19, respiratory health must be prioritised. The IRC is committed to improving lung health and respiratory outcomes for patients, empowering national respiratory coalitions to work with governments in promoting the importance of overall respiratory health and making it a priority in national health policy.
Our Initiative
The IRC is calling on governments and policy makers to establish funded national respiratory strategies, which include prevention, new models of care, ambitious measurable targets, and accountable leadership to improve lung health by focusing on better:
Prevention of Respiratory Diseases
Implementing preventative approaches, increasing vaccination coverage rate across all ages and addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental pollution.
Action on Reducing Inequalities
Putting people and their rights at the centre of respiratory health and addressing the social determinants of poor health to improve accessibility and delivery of healthcare by prioritising marginalised and hard to reach communities for example, through better involvement of community leaders and health networkers.
Access to the Right Treatment at the Right Time
Lung health checks to aid earlier and more accurate diagnosis. Ensuring integrated primary, secondary, and tertiary care – fostering holistic patient management, improving access to evidence-based therapy and implementing respiratory guidelines at every level of care, with financial incentives to drive improvement.
Prioritisation of Research, Data and Insight to Improve Care
Focusing on research and insight into innovations in treatment and care to advance lung health, such as AI, use of real-world data and evidence, novel therapies, trials design, targeted research strategies and data registries to focus on inequality and areas of greatest need.