ASI calls for asthma treatment funds

PEOPLE with asthma could reduce the need for hospital treatment if the costs of treating the illness were reduced and more information about control was available, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI).

As the organisation marks World Asthma Day, it said it costs an average of €1,500 per year to treat each asthma sufferer.

"Asthma accounts for 80-100 deaths per year, 7,000 hospital admissions per year and 30,000 A&E admissions," chairperson of the ASI's medical committee, Dr Pat Manning, said.

"In some instances people cannot afford proper treatment, it costs approximately €1,500 per year to treat asthma and 40% of that comes out of the patient's pocket," he added.

"If people are more informed about their condition and get the appropriate treatment, these hospital figures will drop."

The ASI estimates around 470,000 people in Ireland have asthma. As one in five of these are children, the cost of treating the illness can be problematic for many families.

"If you have two or three kids with asthma, the cost of doctors' visits and medication is significant, especially for those without medical cards," ASI chief executive officer Eibhlín Mulroe said.

Anecdotal evidence suggests some people leave their condition untreated because of the cost factor or a lack of information about how to control it, she said.

"Asthma is a chronic illness, but it isn't regarded in Ireland as a long-term illness," she said.

The ASI has launched a revamped website www.asthmasociety.ie.

It includes a feature for World Asthma Day where children have written about living with the condition.

The independent charity is seeking more support from the Department of Health and the Health Promotion Unit so it can run its advice line five days a week.

"With more support from the Department of Health and the Health Promotion Unit we could go a long way to achieving our goal of ensuring everyone with asthma lives life to their full potential," Ms Mulroe added.