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CRD Multi-stakeholder Meeting
CRD Awareness in India
Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Elevating Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) in India
On July 10, 2026, the Pace Center for Global Health at Pace University partnered with HRIDAY and the Healthy India Alliance (HIA)/India NCD Alliance to convene the Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Elevating Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs) in India: Catalysing Action through Innovation, Community Engagement and Partnerships in New Delhi, India.
The roundtable brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers, public health leaders, civil society organizations, people with lived experience, journalists, youth representatives, and international partners to strengthen collaboration and advance the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of chronic respiratory diseases in India.
The meeting was organized to:
- Highlight the growing burden of chronic respiratory diseases as a public health priority in India.
- Explore innovative, scalable, and people-centered approaches for CRD prevention, treatment, and management.
- Promote the meaningful involvement of people living with CRDs in policy and programme development.
- Foster multi-sector collaboration to strengthen respiratory health across healthcare systems, communities, and policy.
The roundtable featured keynote presentations and panel discussions from leading national and international experts, including Mr. José Luis Castro, Founding Director of the Pace Center for Global Health, who emphasized the importance of integrating respiratory health into universal health coverage and strengthening health systems globally. Discussions also highlighted the need for stronger national prioritization of CRDs, early diagnosis and comprehensive care, climate-responsive primary healthcare, and meaningful engagement of lived experience champions in shaping policy and improving health outcomes.
The afternoon sessions focused on building cross-sector partnerships and co-developing a roadmap toward World COPD Day 2026, identifying opportunities for collaboration, evidence generation, community engagement, and coordinated action to elevate chronic respiratory diseases within India's national health agenda.
Community Awareness Campaign
The roundtable was preceded by a community awareness campaign designed to engage the public and build momentum for collective action on chronic respiratory diseases.
On July 2, 2026, HRIDAY, the Healthy India Alliance/India NCD Alliance, and the Pace Center for Global Health organized street theatre performances in Tigri and Dakshinpuri, New Delhi. Through interactive performances, community members of all ages learned to recognize the signs and symptoms of asthma and COPD, understand the health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution and tobacco use, seek timely care, and support community-led action for cleaner air and healthier environments.
As part of the campaign, HRIDAY also hosted a poster-making competition for middle school students, encouraging young people to express their perspectives on respiratory health through art. The initiative highlighted the important role that youth can play in raising awareness and advocating for healthier communities.
Together, these community engagement activities reinforced the importance of combining policy dialogue with public awareness, lived experience, and youth leadership to advance equitable and sustainable action on chronic respiratory diseases.
The roundtable and accompanying awareness campaign marked an important step toward strengthening partnerships across sectors and creating a shared roadmap for improving respiratory health in India ahead of World COPD Day 2026 and beyond.