Table 1– Essential actions to reduce the burden of respiratory disease

Recommendations
Increase public and policy makers' awareness that respiratory health is essential to global health and for improving national economies
Increase public and policy makers' awareness that childhood respiratory disease is a major cause of childhood illness and has long-term negative consequences on adult health
Urge policy makers to enable universal access to quality healthcare, including the availability of essential medications for all those with respiratory disease
Reduce and then eliminate the use of all tobacco products
Reduce ambient, indoor and occupational air pollution
Provide universal coverage for childhood and adult immunisations, including new conjugate vaccines
Improve early diagnosis of respiratory diseases
Recognise the impact of malnutrition, obesity and physical activity on respiratory conditions and implement plans to correct these concerns
Increase education and training of health professionals in respiratory disease worldwide
Increase respiratory research to develop programmes, tools and strategies to better prevent and treat respiratory diseases