EUFOREA Summit unites global respiratory health leaders to push preventive care agenda

UK — More than 25 international medical societies, patient advocacy groups, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have joined forces with the European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway Diseases (EUFOREA) to advance a new prevention-focused approach to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs).

The initiative seeks to shift healthcare systems away from reactive treatment and toward earlier diagnosis, proactive management, and better long-term patient outcomes.

The Respiratory Summit 2026, held in London, brought together representatives from the asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic rhinitis, and chronic rhinosinusitis communities for the first time under a shared prevention agenda.

 According to EUFOREA, these conditions now affect more than one billion people globally and continue to place a significant burden on healthcare systems and economies.

Prevention beyond disease avoidance

The WHO recognizes chronic respiratory diseases as one of the major non-communicable disease groups alongside cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes.

Recent global policy developments, including the UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and the WHO Lung Health Resolution, have elevated respiratory health on the international agenda.

However, stakeholders at the summit emphasized that meaningful progress will depend on translating these commitments into practical changes in everyday healthcare.

Participants stressed that prevention extends beyond stopping disease before it develops.

For the millions already living with respiratory conditions, prevention also means slowing disease progression, reducing complications, and ensuring patients receive timely, effective treatment.

Many respiratory diseases remain undiagnosed for years, often leading to worsening symptoms and avoidable health complications.

Dr. Xander Bertels, EUFOREA’s Head of Advocacy, said healthcare systems must make a deliberate shift toward proactive care.

He noted that timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment require coordinated action from policymakers, healthcare providers, regulators, and payers rather than placing the burden solely on patients and clinicians.

Patients call for earlier diagnosis

The summit also highlighted personal experiences from patients living with chronic respiratory diseases.

Poppy Valentine, 34, who has lived with severe asthma since childhood, recalled spending years in and out of hospital, including multiple admissions to intensive care.

She said her life changed after gaining access to specialist care and the right treatment, which enabled her to avoid further hospital admissions and pursue her career.

Similarly, retired general practitioner Catherine Shire described living for more than two decades with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and severe late-onset asthma before receiving an accurate diagnosis.

She called for earlier referrals to specialists and closer collaboration among healthcare professionals treating upper- and lower-airway diseases.

Focus on innovation and integrated care

The summit will conclude with a short- and long-term action plan designed to embed preventive measures into routine clinical practice.

Proposed priorities include expanding early detection programmes, increasing the use of digital health and artificial intelligence tools, improving access to specialist care, and promoting integrated management of respiratory diseases across medical specialties.

The discussions align with several recent EUFOREA initiatives, including new digital patient-support platforms, educational programmes for healthcare professionals, and research aimed at improving disease monitoring and treatment outcomes.

The organization has also been advocating for greater use of data-driven care models and multidisciplinary collaboration to close gaps in respiratory healthcare.

EUFOREA plans to host a second summit in Boston next year to assess progress and evaluate the implementation of prevention-focused strategies in clinical practice worldwide.