Asthma: A forgotten condition that costs lives and money

At least one person dies every week in Ireland from asthma, a condition that costs the economy €500m a year, according to the Asthma Society of Ireland.

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.