Respira Health

Overview
Respira Health is developing a free, mobile-based pulmonary rehabilitation program to close the treatment gap for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - India’s second leading cause of death. Incubated in March 2025 through Ambitious Impact’s Charity Entrepreneurship Program, we are in the early stages of building a scalable, cost-effective model for delivery across low-resource settings.

The Problem
COPD is the fourth leading cause of death globally, responsible for over 3 million deaths annually. Critically, 90% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where limited healthcare capacity and logistical challenges prevent patients from accessing effective treatment. In India, this treatment gap is especially pronounced, despite the availability of proven interventions.

Our Solution
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well-established intervention combining strength and cardio exercises, breathing techniques, lifestyle support (e.g., smoking cessation), and psychological care. Research shows that just three PR sessions can reduce the risk of death by 9%. Digital delivery of PR via mobile phones or web platforms has been shown to be as effective as in-person programs, but at a fraction of the cost. Respira Health is adapting existing PR content into a mobile-first format accessible via widely used platforms like WhatsApp to ensure it reaches underserved COPD patients across India.

Current Activities
We are conducting scoping visits in Mumbai and Delhi from July - September 2025. Our objectives are to:

• Understand the burden of COPD and the broader healthcare landscape.
• Conduct needs assessments with healthcare workers and patients.
• Test key assumptions around digital platform usability, referral pathways, and patient adherence.
• Build relationships with potential collaborators for future pilot implementation.

Future Plans
Upon completion of our proof-of-concept phase, we will fundraise for a pilot launch. Our primary goal for Year 1 is to demonstrate uptake, engagement, and adherence in low-resource communities, paving the way for scale-up in 2026.

Impact Potential
Our intervention could provide millions of COPD patients with access to life-extending care currently out of reach. By leveraging digital tools, we aim to overcome traditional delivery barriers and radically expand access to pulmonary rehabilitation. We estimate that the average patient completing our program will gain over six months of healthy life. Based on our cost modelling, we anticipate averting a disability-adjusted life year (DALY) for just $20 - making our intervention potentially five times more cost-effective than GiveWell’s funding bar for highly cost-effective charities.