EU Screening Week: Hold a lung testing event to put respiratory health on the EU screening map
ERS and ELF invite respiratory professionals and patient networks to help put respiratory health on the EU’s screening map by holding lung testing events during EU Screening Week 2026, which runs from 28 September until 4 October.
5 August, 2026ERS and the European Lung Foundation (ELF) are inviting respiratory professionals and patient networks to help put respiratory health on the EU’s screening map by holding lung testing events during EU Screening Week 2026, which runs from 28 September until 4 October. The EU’s first Screening Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection, under the European Commission’s cardiovascular plan. It aims to encourage citizens to take a simple health action, mobilise stakeholders across Europe, and create a visible European health moment across EU Member States. ERS and ELF, as part of the respiratory community, recognise the opportunity to ensure that respiratory health checks are part of this European health moment; respiratory and cardiovascular health are intrinsically linked. By organising and registering lung health activities during EU Screening Week, organisations can help raise the profile of lung health across Europe and support ongoing efforts to see lung health checks included within routine approaches to prevention and early detection. Respiratory professionals and patients encouraged to hold testing eventsFrom 28 September–4 October, ERS and ELF encourage respiratory professionals and patients to hold lung testing events in their communities. All events organised and registered on the European Commission’s platform will be recorded on the Commission’s website with a map displaying all screening activities taking place across Europe. Register your activity on the European Commission website – deadline 20 September. Healthy Lungs for Life sets an example for health check eventsThe ERS and ELF contribution to the EU Screening Week will be through Healthy Lungs for Life, an international awareness campaign that has been running for more than 10 years. Working with patients, healthcare professionals and civil society organisations at national level and regional level, it combines scientific evidence, public engagement and advocacy to promote lung health and highlight the issues that contribute to it. Through Healthy Lungs for Life, respiratory organisations can help ensure that lung health is represented in this Europe-wide initiative. Activities could range from lung function testing and breathing checks to awareness campaigns, education sessions and community outreach. If you are interested in holding an event as part of the EU Screening Week,download our Healthy Lungs for Life event toolkit and resources, which will help you set up and register an event. Screening Week ‘not just another awareness event’The aim is that the EU’s Screening Week will become an annual, far reaching and impactful health event – as opposed to just another awareness event. Prof. Raquel Duarte, incoming ERS Director of Scientific Relations with the EU, said: “Prevention of respiratory diseases is at an extremely crucial moment. We are edging ever closer to ensuring that respiratory health checks form part of standardised health checks across Europe, but we need the help of our networks of professionals and patients to make it happen. “Now is the time for us to all work together and truly demonstrate the importance of early detection, and the reasons why respiratory testing should become routine in countries all over Europe. I encourage anyone who can do to organise an event during the EU’s Screening Week – no matter how small or large – and I encourage you to also use the example set by Healthy Lungs for Life. Each event will make a difference to local people and will contribute to our ultimate objectives. “Respiratory being included in the European Commission’s cardiovascular plan would be a gamechanger for respiratory health. The benefits to public health, and to national and regional economies would be vast. I look forward to seeing and hearing about all the respiratory events that take place on EU Screening Week. ”Register your event with the European Commission.