Building political momentum for chronic respiratory health in Barcelona

Chronic respiratory diseases affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, yet they still struggle to command the political attention their scale demands.

That gap between health need and political action was at the centre of discussions in Barcelona, where the Global Health Caucus joined respiratory health leaders on the sidelines of the European Respiratory Society Congress.

From 4 to 6 September, Rt Hon Lord Nick Herbert, Chair of the Global Health Caucus, took part in Pathways to Policy: Co-Creating Stronger Chronic Respiratory Care, a workshop hosted by the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies with support from Sanofi and Regeneron. The meeting brought together clinical leaders, researchers, advocates and organisations working across chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs).

The visit came as the Global Health Caucus prepares to expand parliamentary engagement on chronic respiratory diseases, building stronger connections between those working on respiratory health and the policymakers who can turn evidence into national action.

From evidence to political action

Scientific evidence alone does not change policy. Progress also depends on political leaders understanding the problem, knowing what action they can take and having the evidence and partnerships needed to make the case.

Lord Herbert brought that political perspective to the Barcelona discussion.

Parliamentarians can influence national health priorities in practical ways. They can question ministers, scrutinise public spending, strengthen legislation and push governments to account for whether health commitments are being delivered.

This approach has underpinned the work of the Global TB Caucus for more than a decade. Its network has engaged more than 3,000 parliamentarians across over 150 countries, connecting political leaders with academics, clinical experts, civil society and people with lived experience.

The Global Health Caucus is now taking lessons from that model into other areas of health where stronger political leadership can make a difference.

Chronic respiratory diseases are an important part of that work.

Building a new network for respiratory health

The Barcelona meeting provided an opportunity to begin building the relationships that will support the Global Health Caucus' work on CRDs.

The Caucus connected with respiratory health leaders working across clinical care, research, primary health care, advocacy and policy. These included representatives from the Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases, the International Primary Care Respiratory Group, the COPD Foundation, the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform, the Lovexair Foundation and the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies.

Several discussions opened clear opportunities for continued collaboration. These include strengthening parliamentary briefing materials, bringing lived experience into the Caucus' work and building connections with respiratory health stakeholders in countries where parliamentary engagement can accelerate change.

The conversations also reinforced an important lesson. Health experts and parliamentarians need to work together much earlier and much more consistently.

For advocates, engaging a parliamentarian should not simply mean sending them a report. MPs need a clear understanding of the problem, compelling evidence and a practical explanation of what they can do about it.

For parliamentarians, stronger relationships with people working on the front lines of respiratory health can help ensure that political action reflects the realities people experience.

A foundation for what comes next

The Barcelona visit was not intended to produce a single declaration or commitment. Its value was in building the relationships needed for sustained political action.

New connections were established and existing partnerships strengthened, creating a stronger foundation for the Global Health Caucus' work on chronic respiratory diseases. Follow-up discussions are already planned with partners in the UK and Latin America, alongside further engagement with the wider network represented in Barcelona.

The Global TB Caucus has shown what becomes possible when parliamentarians organise across parties and borders around a shared health challenge. The Global Health Caucus is building on that experience to bring political leadership to health issues that have remained outside the political spotlight for too long.

For chronic respiratory diseases, Barcelona was another step towards building that political movement.

We choose action.