15 April 2026
The International Respiratory Coalition (IRC) is delighted to welcome Armenia as its 21st national coalition, the latest country to join a growing global network dedicated to improving lung health.
The Armenian coalition is made up of three founding organisations: the Armenian Association of Pulmonologists, the Armenian Paediatric Association, and the Armenian CF Family Community.
These organisations bring together patients and family advocates alongside clinical specialists in adult and paediatric respiratory medicine, ensuring the patient voice is part of the process from day one.
Respiratory disease in Armenia
Armenia faces significant respiratory health challenges. According to the:
- Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction – around one in four Armenian adults are current smokers, with smoking rates far higher among men (51.7%) than women (1.9%).
- World Health Organization – lung cancers are the fourth leading cause of death in Armenia, lower respiratory infections rank fifth, and COPD ranks seventh, highlighting the impact of respiratory disease on deaths in the country.
The scale of the challenge is clear, and the Armenian coalition is ready to drive positive change for lung health.
What the founding partners say
Marine Petrosyan, President of Armenian Association of Pulmonologists, said:
“In Armenia, both doctors and patients face a wide range of challenges when it comes to respiratory care. Many essential treatments, including affordable inhaled medications for asthma and COPD, are difficult to access. Diagnosis of conditions like sleep-related breathing disorders, interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension often comes too late, and there is no national strategy to bring it all together.
“That is what brought the Association of Pulmonologists, the Armenian Pediatric Association and the Armenian CF Family Community together. Our goal is to document the prevalence of respiratory diseases in the country, use that evidence to set clear goals for ourselves and national decision-makers, and work towards earlier diagnosis and treatment in line with international guidelines. We also want to improve the quality of care through continuous training of doctors and encouraging active membership in the ERS.
“We united as a coalition because we believe these challenges need a collective response. Being part of the IRC’s global network gives us hope, because we know many countries have successfully tackled similar problems in respiratory care. Their experience will be invaluable as we build the case for change in Armenia.”
The IRC warmly welcomes IRC Armenia and looks forward to working together for a future where fewer people suffer from preventable and treatable lung conditions.
Learn more about the national coalitions supported by the IRC