AstraZeneca India, a science-led biopharmaceutical company, is advancing its commitment to chronic respiratory care by extending its successful Centre of Excellence (CoE) concept. This concept originally developed for severe asthma, to the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The CoE initiative is extended to AERO (Airway Alliance for Excellence in Respiratory Outcomes) Clinics, have established centres in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kerala, Chennai, Goa, and Mohali. These centres will serve as pivotal hubs for expanding nationwide access to patient education, diagnosis, and advanced treatment pathways.
COPD remains a major global health challenge, ranking as the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021- approximately 5% of all global fatalities. Notably, nearly 90% of COPD deaths in people under 70 occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India.
The disease’s burden is projected to rise, with deaths in India expected to exceed 79.13 per lakh population by 2030, unless intervention strategies are accelerated. Yet, with effective management and public health measures, this figure could potentially decrease to below 60.55 per lakh population, highlighting the impact of improved care.
Nine Centres of Excellence are currently operational nationwide. COEs provide expert mentorship and regular training sessions to AERO clinics, supporting them with standardised protocols and updates. Through this collaborative model, clinics present complex cases to COEs, fostering continuous knowledge exchange and building clinical expertise. This approach enables local healthcare providers, including those in underserved regions across India, to deliver consistent, high-quality COPD care.
