ISRAEL

The Israeli Respiratory Coalition joined the IRC in 2023. In Israel, an estimated 13% of the population are affected by respiratory disease, contributing to 11,000 related deaths annually and a societal economic cost of $41 billion.

Respiratory health in Israel faces several pressing issues: 18% of the population are active smokers and the rate is rising, fewer than 50% of those with airway disease receive any treatment, and there are major differences between inpatient and ambulatory services. Additional gaps include low awareness and barriers to treatment, limited epidemiological research and low governmental involvement. 

The coalition has a grant received to part-fund work on improving pulmonary rehabilitation access and usage, with all partners now recruited, intervention design completed and IRB approval obtained. Current activities include:

• Implementation of Tele-PR (tele-pulmonary rehabilitation)
• Asthma day screening
• A transition of care project
• Assessment of COPD burden

A long-term respiratory strategy is also under development.

• Asthma
• COPD
• Tele-pulmonary rehabilitation

Breathing Israel

Israel Society of Pulmonology

“HOF” Israeli lung fibrosis patient association

The institute of pulmonary medicine, Tel Aviv Medical Center, affiliated to Tel Aviv University

The pulmonary Institute, Barzilai Medical Center, affiliated to Ben Gurion University

The pulmonary institute, Rambam Medical Center, affiliated to Technion, Israel institute of technology