Respiratory societies call for urgent prioritization of TB detection and treatment in high-burden settings FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 24 March 2026 On World TB Day 2026, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) and GOLD are urging governments, international agencies, and the global health community to prioritize evidence-based strategies to stop tuberculosis (TB) transmission and …

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) agree on diagnostic criteria for COPD  Joint statement from GOLD/GLI regarding the use of spirometry to define airflow obstruction and diagnose COPD European Respiratory Journal 2026; on line first [DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02574-2025]. 13 March 2026 The Global Initiative for Chronic …

UN Member States pledge to increase access to diagnosis and inhaled medicines for the 480 million people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Adoption of the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing  The Global Initiative for Chronic …

Funding Cuts Put Advances in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment at Risk World AIDS Day reminds us that collaboration is necessary to slow TB resurgence: Forum of International Respiratory Societies. Dec. 01, 2025 – The cuts to USAID in early 2025 dealt a devastating blow to the health infrastructure around the world. According to the World …

Forum of International Respiratory Societies Calls for Immediate Action to Prevent Childhood Pneumonia on World Pneumonia Day 2025 For Immediate Release 12thNovember 2025 Despite significant progress in recent years, pneumonia remains a leading cause of child mortality, claiming hundreds of thousands of young lives every year. On World Pneumonia Day 12th November 2025, the Forum …

International Respiratory experts Use World Lung Cancer Day to Stress the Importance of Lung Cancer Screening and Risk Factor Awareness GLENVIEW, Ill. – Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide for both men and women. In 2020, there were 2.5 million new lung cancer cases globally and 1.80 million deaths. In support …

Utrecht, 26 June – In a joint appeal published in The Lancet, 44 leading scientific and social organisations from across the globe including The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS)  and its partner organisations, are calling on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to take urgent action to save millions of young lives by protecting them against respiratory …

International Respiratory Societies Unite on World Bronchiectasis Day 2025 to Urge Global Awareness and Collaboration This Rare Lung Disease is Increasing; Members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies Unite to Improve Early Detection JULY 1, 2025 – According to the 2022 Global Impact of Respiratory Disease Report, the global presence of non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis …

Stop tobacco industry tactics targeting young people, say international lung health experts On World No Tobacco Day (31 May, 2025) the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), including member GOLD, supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) efforts to expose and condemn the tobacco industry’s harmful tactics—many of which are aimed at young people. This year’s …

Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL, Say Respiratory Health Organizations The Forum of International Respiratory Societies launches new campaign to increase access to asthma treatment. On World Asthma Day 2025 (6 May), the call to action is clear: ‘Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL’. To highlight the lack of access to inhaled medicines for asthma …