KYRGYZSTAN

The Lung Health Coalition in Kyrgyz Republic is a national multi-stakeholder partnership dedicated to improving lung health and reducing the burden of respiratory disease in Kyrgyzstan. The coalition brings together healthcare professionals, scientific societies, patient organisations, policymakers, academic institutions, and other partners to advance evidence-based respiratory care.

Its strategic priorities are to:

• Advocate for policies that prioritise lung health and equitable access to high-quality respiratory care
• Promote prevention, early diagnosis, and integrated management of respiratory diseases
• Strengthen lifelong professional education for physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals in line with international standards
• Empower patients and the public through education, prevention, and self-management initiatives
• Advance research, innovation, and the implementation of evidence-based respiratory medicine
• Foster national, regional, and international collaboration to improve respiratory health outcomes

Respiratory diseases are a major public health challenge in Kyrgyzstan. Tuberculosis, chronic respiratory diseases, lower respiratory tract infections, lung cancer, and tobacco-related conditions contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality. Air pollution, household biomass fuel exposure, tobacco use, occupational dust exposure, and the country’s high-altitude environment further increase this burden. Improving prevention, early diagnosis, equitable access to quality care, and implementation of evidence-based clinical practice are national priorities.

Milestones for 2026/2027

• Official launch of the Lung Health Coalition in Kyrgyz Republic
• Development and submission of the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Respiratory Diseases (2026–2031) to the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic for approval
• Launch of the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign in Kyrgyzstan, with the support of the IRC
• Establishment of a National Spirometry Network to improve access to high-quality lung function testing across the country
• Expanding access to remote diagnosis, monitoring, and follow-up care for respiratory diseases in remote and underserved regions through telemedicine and digital health technologies

Current and planned campaigns

• Respiratory schools — nationwide respiratory education and training programmes for healthcare professionals
• Central Asian Respiratory School (CARS) Next Generation Faculty Programme — developing the next generation of respiratory medicine educators and clinical leaders in Central Asia
• National implementation of Very Brief Advice (VBA) for smoking cessation
• International collaborative research in high-altitude and respiratory medicine

• Prevention and early diagnosis
• Professional education
• Tobacco control
• Lung function testing
• Respiratory research
• Patient engagement
• International collaboration

Kyrgyz Thoracic Society

Alliance on Hypertension and Non-Communicable Diseases

Central Asian Respiratory Society (CARS)

Kyrgyz Society of Cardiology

And several patient organisations