20 July 2026
Italy’s Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci, has established a Technical Advisory Board on Respiratory Health, based within the Ministry’s Cabinet Office. It is the first body of its kind in Italy, formally recognising the clinical, social and economic importance of respiratory disease and giving it a vital place in national health policy.
The Board grew from the work of members of Consulta della Pneumologia, Italy’s national respiratory coalition that is part of the IRC network. Its Respira strategy, including the Libro Bianco della Pneumologia (White Paper on Pulmonology) and a series of policy papers, provided the scientific and programmatic case that helped bring the Board about.
The Board brings clinical evidence and the patient voice together in one forum. Two patient representatives designated by Consulta della Pneumologia’s Steering Committee will sit on it:
- Nuccia Gatta, representing Alpha 1
- Donatella Nobile, representing Bronchiectasis
They join representatives from Italy’s Ministry of Health, the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces, pulmonology specialists from AIPO-ITS/ETS and SIP/IRS, plus general practitioners and paediatricians.
For Italy’s respiratory landscape, this is significant. It puts patients and clinicians in the room where national strategy is set, aimed at driving earlier diagnosis, better management of chronic conditions and more consistent care across Italy’s regions.
Dr. Bruno Balbi, a member of Consulta della Pneumologia, said:
“The establishment of the Technical Advisory Board on Respiratory Health in Italy marks a pivotal milestone in our coalition’s mission. By institutionalising the collaboration between policymakers, scientific societies and patient representatives, we are bridging the gap between clinical evidence and national healthcare policy.”
Consulta della Pneumologia says its focus now shifts to implementation. The aim is a systemic shift towards earlier diagnosis and more effective management of chronic respiratory conditions, with the patient’s voice built into future decisions on home-based care and digital health innovation.
The coalition’s priority is to turn the Respira proposals into concrete reforms centred on integrated care pathways, while continuing to press for equal access to quality respiratory care in every region.