Vol 76, No 3 (2008)
Review paper
Published online: 2008-05-22
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)
J. Bousquet, R. Dahl, N. Khaltaev
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(3):160-169.
Vol 76, No 3 (2008)
REVIEWS
Published online: 2008-05-22
Submitted: 2013-02-22
Abstract
Hundreds of millions of people of all ages suffer from chronic respiratory diseases which include asthma and respiratory
allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. More than 500
million patients live in developing countries or in deprived populations. Chronic respiratory diseases are increasing in
prevalence. Although the cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable, chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors receive
insufficient attention from the healthcare community, government officials, media, patients and families. The Fifty-Third World
Health Assembly recognised the enormous human suffering caused by chronic diseases and requested the World Health
Organization (WHO) Director General to give priority to the prevention and control of chronic diseases, with special emphasis on
developing countries. This led to the formation of the WHO Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). GARD
is a voluntary alliance of organisations, institutions and agencies working towards a common vision to improve global lung
health according to local needs. GARD is developed in a stepwise approach using the following three planning steps: estimate
population need and advocate action; formulate and adopt policy; and identify policy implementation steps.
Abstract
Hundreds of millions of people of all ages suffer from chronic respiratory diseases which include asthma and respiratory
allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. More than 500
million patients live in developing countries or in deprived populations. Chronic respiratory diseases are increasing in
prevalence. Although the cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable, chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors receive
insufficient attention from the healthcare community, government officials, media, patients and families. The Fifty-Third World
Health Assembly recognised the enormous human suffering caused by chronic diseases and requested the World Health
Organization (WHO) Director General to give priority to the prevention and control of chronic diseases, with special emphasis on
developing countries. This led to the formation of the WHO Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). GARD
is a voluntary alliance of organisations, institutions and agencies working towards a common vision to improve global lung
health according to local needs. GARD is developed in a stepwise approach using the following three planning steps: estimate
population need and advocate action; formulate and adopt policy; and identify policy implementation steps.
Keywords
asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; chronic respiratory diseases; World Health Organization
Title
Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Vol 76, No 3 (2008)
Article type
Review paper
Pages
160-169
Published online
2008-05-22
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(3):160-169.
Keywords
asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
chronic respiratory diseases
World Health Organization
Authors
J. Bousquet
R. Dahl
N. Khaltaev