Portugal

The Portuguese IRC Coalition was established in 2023, bringing together the Portuguese Society of Pneumology, the National Program for Respiratory Diseases, the Lung Foundation, the Portuguese Association of People with COPD and other Chronic Respiratory Diseases (RESPIRA), and faculties from the Porto and Minho universities. 

The coalition’s overarching goal is to develop a strategic framework to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disorders in Portugal, where 1.8 million people are affected. 

After analysing national data, the coalition identified sleep apnoea as a significant national problem requiring immediate attention and chose it as its initial focus area. The coalition is developing a project to enhance the response to sleep apnoea, given its prevalence and impact. The strategy will be piloted, evaluated and refined before being scaled up for nationwide implementation

Sleep apnoea

ICBAS, Porto University
Faculdade de Psicologia, Porto University
Minho University
Economy Faculty, Porto University
Portuguese Society of Pneumology
National Program for Respiratory Diseases
The Lung Foundation
The Portuguese Association of People with COPD and other Chronic Respiratory Diseases – RESPIRA
Primary Care Respiratory Group
Pharmacy National Association