This month we spoke with Dr Raja Dhar, director of the Department of Pulmonology at the CK Birla group of hospitals and national representative for India at the European Respiratory Society. He shares why patient empowerment is important, his hopes for our upcoming World Bronchiectasis Day Question Time webinar and offers valuable advice for those […]
I am a director and head of the department of pulmonology at the CK Birla group of hospitals. As a healthcare professional, my work focusses on improving education around lung diseases and improving care for patients.
Alongside this, I am secretary of the Indian Chest Society and national representative for India at the European Respiratory Society (ERS). I am proud to represent my country and especially passionate about strengthening India’s contributions to global respiratory guidelines.
My focus is on developing new guidelines and registries for bronchiectasis. Since 2017, I have led the Indian bronchiectasis registry (EMBARC-India) and published in journals like the European Respiratory Journal and The Lancet Global Health. I have also helped coordinate guidelines for the management of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), an inflammatory condition that can lead to bronchiectasis if left untreated. More recently, I have contributed to new ERS guidelines on Bronchiectasis and expanding EMBARC-India’s research collaboration.
At the World Bronchiectasis Day Question Time webinar, I am hoping to tackle some questions about the importance of lung function testing for respiratory health and the value of patient engagement in improving outcomes. I also hope to share insights into country-specific data and potential approaches to addressing these challenges.
It is important that patients understand and can speak freely about their condition. By asking questions, talking about their health and taking an active role in decision-making, they gain ownership of their care and are more likely to stick to treatment plans. In countries like India, where air pollution is high but access to healthcare is low, patients can help reduce system pressures by self-managing aspects of their care as well as educating others.
By making their voices heard, patients play an important role in highlighting unmet needs and ensuring that researchers are focussing on relevant questions. These activities can help reduce the risk of bronchiectasis and improve its management.
Some of the ways patients can take better control of their bronchiectasis include:
In warmer weather, dehydration can thicken mucus and worsen symptoms of bronchiectasis. There are several ways people living with the condition can keep their lungs healthy whilst on holiday. These include:
Although bronchiectasis is becoming more widely recognised, there remains limited awareness in some countries about its causes and management. Greater efforts are needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment, as well as the underlying conditions that can lead to it, such as tuberculosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Establishing specialised care clinics and advancing research are important steps, particularly in countries where support is currently limited.
As a professional, I am encouraged by ongoing efforts and by the increasing number of patients advocating for their condition. This gives me confidence that bronchiectasis outcomes can be improved in the future.
If you are living with bronchiectasis or know someone who is, join us on 1 July as we hear from patients and experts as they empower us to improve quality of life for those living with the condition.
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