Pan African Thoracic Society

The Society was formed in 2003 to create a forum to address the concern that optimal management and control of respiratory diseases is not being achieved in many African settings. Furthermore, PATS was concerned at the late or misdiagnosis of respiratory diseases in Africa.

Formed initially as a virtual organization, PATS currently has a membership composed of professionals from 43 African countries both Anglophone and Francophone countries.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives in Africa and highlighted key gaps in health systems across the continent in managing respiratory diseases. Key issues included access to oxygen therapy, health force challenges, and access to intensive care facilities.

New activities including webinars hosted by PATS and linkages of PATS members to key initiatives and position statements on access to affordable medicines and access to oxygen in Africa. Through our ongoing support and engagement with the European Respiratory Society, American Thoracic Society, British Thoracic Society, and Forum of International Respiratory Society, we have seen PATS making an impactful change in global respiratory issues.

As an organization, we have continued with our flagship PATS MECOR research training program which pivoted to an online platform in 2021 and has just completed a course in Nairobi, Kenya, June 2023. We are grateful for the support by the NIHR Global Health Group – IMPALA for funding this course over the last 6 years.

The Pan African Thoracic Society Journal was successfully launched and has grown in stature over the last 3 years with the support of the British Thoracic Society (BTS). Through the support of BTS, we have also had two successful short-term fellowship attachments in the UK and Africa in 2022 and 2023.

We would like to congratulate our new EXCO that took over the reins in June 2023, and we hope to grow the organization in the next 2 years to improve the lives of all people with respiratory disease and advocate for lung health in Africa.