Rajeev Sibal, President, India Region Formulations, Lupin Limited

Breathing is the simplest and most essential act of life. Yet for millions of Indians, it is no longer effortless. Respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tuberculosis, and lung cancer continue to impact families across the country, leaving behind not only health challenges but also significant social and economic scars. Families lose valuable and productive years, children miss opportunities, and the country faces the toll of diminished productivity.

Magnitude of the Challenge

India today bears one of the world’s heaviest burdens of chronic respiratory illness. The Indian Journal of Public Health (2023) reports that nearly 38 million Indians live with COPD, accounting for 17.8% of global cases. A similar number suffers from asthma. Together, these conditions account for a significant portion of deaths (more than 10% in 2016, as per the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in our country. But beyond these statistics are real human stories: a parent unable to work regularly, a child missing classes, or a worker forced to give up a livelihood because of failing lung health.

 Drivers: Silent and Neglected

The reasons behind this crisis are layered and uniquely Indian. Tobacco remains a well-known risk factor, but the challenge extends much further. Outdoor air pollution, particularly in our rapidly growing urbanizing cities, remains among the highest in the world. The IQAir 2024 report places India as the 5^th most polluted country, with particulate matter levels consistently breaching global safety thresholds from the WHO. Rural households are not spared either; indoor air pollution from cooking with biomass fuels, poor ventilation, and prolonged smoke exposure continues to affect millions, especially women and children. Occupational exposure is another reality for India’s large workforce; dust, fumes, and industrial chemicals compromise respiratory health. To make matters worse, late diagnosis is common, which means many patients only seek care when the disease is advanced and harder to treat.

The Ground for Awareness and Promptness

Despite the scale of the crisis, experts say much of the suffering is preventable. Early diagnosis and consistent management can have a profoundly positive impact on lives and improve outcomes. Preventive steps such as quitting tobacco, improving home ventilation, wearing protective gear in hazardous workplaces, and getting regular health check-ups are achievable. Technology also offers promise through digital health platforms, mobile reminders, and telemedicine, which are already helping patients in both urban and rural areas stay connected to care.

Improving lung health requires more than just medicine- a patient-first approach is essential. Empowering our people with accurate information, dispelling the stigma surrounding inhalers and chronic illness, and supporting families and caregivers are vital. Lung health cannot rest on the shoulders of patients alone. A coordinated effort is needed. Our healthcare professionals focus on early detection and empathetic care, while policymakers need to enhance air quality standards, tobacco control measures, and access to healthcare. The pharmaceutical industry and private sector must drive innovation while ensuring affordability and reach. Schools, workplaces, and communities must also be engaged as partners in raising awareness and prevention.

 A Shared Responsibility

 On World Lung Day, we are reminded that medicine alone cannot solve this challenge. Drugs and treatments will always remain central to care, but their impact will be limited in the absence of awareness, prevention, and shared responsibility. Prioritizing lung health in India’s public health agenda is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one. By lowering the disease burden, we safeguard our workforce, support families, and strengthen the nation’s resilience.

Everyone has the right to breathe freely with dignity. Every child should have the opportunity to grow up without preventable respiratory illness. Every worker should be able to contribute without the burden of compromised health. If we, as a society, commit to going beyond medicine, by embracing awareness, prevention, and responsibility, India can change the course of respiratory disease.

The challenge is urgent, but the opportunity is real. Together, we can empower millions of Indians to lead healthier, longer, and more productive lives, while building a stronger, more resilient nation for generations to come.

This article was first published in the BW Healthcare World, on 26^th September 2025, on account of World Lung Day.