Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is an increasingly recognized yet often underdiagnosed health challenge, with India contributing nearly 10–15% of the global burden. With an estimated prevalence of 20–40 per 100,000 population and a spectrum dominated by hypersensitivity pneumonitis and connective tissue disease–associated ILD, there is an urgent need for early diagnosis, structured data, and coordinated care.
Addressing this gap, the BuILD Pan-India ILD Digital Registry—India’s first-of-its-kind digital ILD registry—was launched today at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, by Dr. Ajoy Menon, Senior Medical Administrator.
Conceived and led by Dr. Asmita Mehta, Professor and Head of Respiratory Medicine, the registry has been developed in collaboration with the Amrita Office of Digital Governance (AODG), under the guidance of Mr. Pradeep Achan, CEO of Amrita Technologies, Dr. Sankaran Nair, and Mr. Biphi Chacko.
With participation from 35 centres across India, the registry functions within a secure Trusted Research Environment (TRE), ensuring anonymised data, strict confidentiality, and ethical governance. It aims to generate robust epidemiological insights, track treatment outcomes, and develop tools for early prediction of disease progression.
This initiative builds on sustained work in ILD care. Over the past two years, Dr. Asmita Mehta has led the Pan-India ILD Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM)—a biweekly platform where complex ILD cases are discussed with experts from across the world. Alongside academic initiatives like the annual BuILD Summit, these efforts have strengthened collaboration, improved decision-making, and enhanced ILD care nationwide.
The registry is expected to serve as a national platform for data-driven decision-making and to shape future ILD care strategies in India.
More than a scientific initiative, this registry represents healthcare as a service to society—enabling early diagnosis, improving treatment, and ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. This milestone reflects the visionary leadership of Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and Dr. Asmita Mehta’s commitment to redefining ILD care in India.
