Asthma: A forgotten condition that costs lives and money
In a pre-budget submission, the society is seeking the implementation of the national clinical programme for asthma, which was proposed four years ago but has never been put into practice.
A survey carried out by the ASI reveals that 40% of its members spend between €100 and €44 on their medication each month, with 27% spending more than €400 per year in visits to their GP.
“With many households having multiple asthma sufferers, it is placing an insurmountable pressure on Irish families. That is why 92% of our members want to see asthma included in the long term illness scheme,” the ASI said in a statement.
The study also shows that 59% of ASI members surveyed have not had an asthma review in the past year, although this is recommended in international and national guidelines for asthma management.
Launching the society’s submission for Budget 2016, Sharon Cosgrove, CEO of the Asthma Society, called on Health Minister Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Michael Noonan to take their submission seriously.
“We are hearing regularly from the [health] minister and the HSE that they want patients to play a more central role in the delivery of health services in Ireland. Our submission truly reflects the voice of our members, who are the very people who are facing unnecessary emotional and financial hardship as a result of their asthma, primarily due to the disjointed nature of asthma care at present,” said Ms Cosgrove.
“Our proposals not alone will bring about improved asthma care but make economic sense and will see a saving to the state in the long-term.”
Referring to the survey of ASI members, Ms Cosgrove said: “These results clearly show people with asthma in Ireland are frustrated by the level of care available to them and the lack of attention asthma care receives by policy makers at present.
“Sadly, this comes as no surprise to me. If anything, these sentiments are becoming stronger month on month. Take, for example, the national clinical programme for asthma (NCPA) which was agreed in 2011 and which, if implemented, would have seen each person with asthma having a personalised written asthma care plan and an annual structured review.
“Despite the best efforts of the Society advocating on behalf of our members, this plan has remained unimplemented, apart from the recent free GP care for the under sixes contract which has a built-in cycle of care for asthma.
“While this is a welcome development, a cycle of care for everyone with asthma needs to be rolled out without delay. Yet again we call on the minister at the very least to commence stage one of the programme in Budget 2016.”
Ireland has the fourth- highest prevalence of asthma in the world
More than one person dies every week in Ireland from asthma
470,000 people in Ireland have asthma
60% of people in Ireland have uncontrolled asthma, meaning they are at risk of an asthma attack
Every 26 minutes someone visits A&E because of asthma
Research shows that 90% of asthma deaths are preventable
One in every 10 adults has asthma
One in every five children has asthma
Adults miss an average of 12 days at work each year due to asthma
Children miss an average of 10 days at school each year due to asthma
The economic burden of asthma in Ireland is estimated €500m a year
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