By Michael Gwarisa
Kazakhstan has joined the International Respiratory Coalition (IRC), strengthening a growing global network working to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases.
The newly established Kazakhstan Respiratory Coalition brings together clinicians, patients, researchers, public health professionals and policymakers to identify priorities for improving lung health in the country.
Respiratory diseases remain a significant public health concern in Kazakhstan. According to the country’s Bureau of National Statistics, diseases of the respiratory system accounted for 10.2% of all deaths in 2025.
The coalition has identified several early priorities, including improving the prevention and early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), expanding access to high-quality spirometry, strengthening targeted screening and case-finding, and advancing more personalised approaches to treatment.
Roza Bakenova, an associate professor and president of Breathe Academy and a member of the Kazakhstan Respiratory Coalition, said the initiative aims to create a national platform for collaboration among different stakeholders.
“We want to create a national platform where clinicians, patients, researchers, public health professionals and policymakers can identify shared priorities and work together to improve respiratory health and care,” Bakenova said.
She said the coalition’s longer-term ambition was to translate clinical data and research into practical improvements in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, while contributing to the development of a national respiratory health strategy for Kazakhstan.
The coalition also plans to draw on international experience while adapting approaches to the country’s healthcare system.
“We hope to share the experience with other IRC coalitions and adapt international best practice to the Kazakhstan healthcare context, particularly in COPD early detection, quality-assured spirometry, ILD and severe uncontrolled asthma care, pulmonary rehabilitation and respiratory registries,” Bakenova said.
The coalition’s focus comes as countries increasingly seek to strengthen health systems’ ability to detect and manage chronic respiratory conditions earlier, particularly conditions such as COPD and asthma that can contribute substantially to illness and premature death.
The IRC welcomed Kazakhstan’s entry into its network, saying the coalition would contribute to efforts aimed at reducing the burden of preventable and treatable lung conditions.
For Kazakhstan, the new coalition provides a platform to bring together expertise across the respiratory health sector while developing approaches that are suited to the country’s own health needs.
