EFA brought lung health to the 2025 European Health Forum Gastein agenda with a high-level session on the future of European lung policy, calling for stronger prevention, earlier diagnosis and better care across Europe. Participants also had the chance to visit our #KeepBreathing spirometry booth and test their lung function, putting prevention into practice and raising awareness about respiratory health.
High-level policy debate on lung health, care and prevention
Our session “Breathing Together for Change”, led on behalf of the European Lung Health Group (ELHG) and part of the #KeepBreathing campaign, brought together policymakers, researchers, patient representatives and civil society organisations to discuss how Europe can better address the burden of respiratory diseases.
Speakers underlined the scale of the challenge: over 82 million Europeans live with a chronic respiratory condition, costing society an estimated €1.4 trillion each year. They called for coordinated policies that prioritise prevention, early detection and support for patients across the care pathway.
“Now is the time for strong, coordinated public health action on improved diagnostics, primary care capacity and clean air policies to reduce preventable suffering and build resilient health systems,” said José Luis Castro, WHO Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases.
“Eighty million patients also mean millions of families who become carers and communities bearing the impact,” noted Susanna Palkonen, EFA Director. “Early diagnosis must be the absolute priority, yet simple lung tests are still not integrated into broader health strategies.”
Speakers pointed to the need for political commitment to turn good practices into systemic change. “Belgium’s move to smoke-free terraces is good practice, but isolated wins aren’t enough. We need political will, and we need to work together for actual change through European legislation,” said Cornel Radu-Loghin, Secretary General of the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP).
From left to right: José Luis Castro (WHO), Susanna Palkonen (EFA), Cornel Radu-Loghin (ENSP)
The importance of evidence-based policymaking was another important message. “Evidence must drive policy, but politics too often focuses on one issue at a time,” added Thomas Allvin, Executive Director of Strategy and Healthcare Systems at EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries). “Strengthening awareness, investment, and the social contract between industry and patients will improve health and care for all.”
Speakers also highlighted the complexity of chronic disease and the need for integrated approaches. “Respiratory diseases rarely come alone, as comorbidities like cardiovascular disease worsen outcomes,” said Zsuzsanna Miklós, Senior Policy Adviser at JARED. “Tackling inequalities, supporting early diagnosis and empowering patients to self-manage are essential steps forward. These are tasks included in the JARED, EU Joint Action of Respiratory Diseases, which can pave the way for a future European Lung Health Plan”
From left to right: Thomas Allvin (EFPIA), Zsuzsanna Miklós (JARED), Susanna Palkonen (EFA), Corden Radu-Loghin (ENSP)
Prevention in action: lung testing on site
Alongside the policy debate, EFA and the European Lung Health Group brought prevention directly to EHFG participants through a free spirometry booth, run with Gundula Koblmiller from Lungenunion (EFA’s Austrian member) and Sven Verschraegen from the University Hospital Ghent.
Gundula Koblmiller (Lungenunion) and Sven Verschraegen (University Hospital Ghent)
Over two days, 130 participants tested their lung function, many for the first time, showing how simple, non-invasive screening can raise awareness and detect potential risks early. Spirometry remains one of the most effective yet underused tools in respiratory medicine and including it in regular health checks for people at risk could significantly improve outcomes.
Linking heart and lung health
EFA Director, Susanna Palkonen also spoke in a high-level panel on cardiovascular disease, part of the EU’s work on a forthcoming Cardiovascular Health Plan. In an “elevator pitch” to European Commissioner for Health Olivér Várhelyi, speakers outlined their key priorities for the plan.
Susanna emphasised the close link between lung and heart health. “Lung health greatly contributes to cardiovascular outcomes. Poor lung function, for example, in COPD can trigger cardiovascular emergencies. Including spirometry in systematic health checks for people at risk and regulating tobacco use, particularly vaping among young people, are essential steps we must take,” she said.
Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi underlined the urgency of addressing preventable risk factors. “Most of the cardiovascular burden is preventable and has nothing to do with genetics — it is about risks we face in daily life,” he said. “We know what must be changed for healthier generations, so let’s change it.”
A shared agenda for prevention and care
Our activities at EHFG 2025 showed that respiratory health must be integrated into Europe’s wider public health strategy through a dedicated Action Plan to implement the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on Integrated Lung Health. Prevention, early diagnosis, tobacco regulation and equitable access to care are all essential to tackling the burden of chronic disease and to building resilient, patient-centred health systems.
Together with partners across the respiratory community, EFA will continue working to ensure that every person in Europe can #KeepBreathing.