Cheaper healthcare key to fighting asthma - expert

  • Breaking
  • 30/10/2014

More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, 500,000 of those in New Zealand.

In Europe alone, the economic burden of the disease has been estimated at over $30 billion and avoidable deaths due to mistreatment continue to occur.

But now a new global campaign to combat asthma is being launched, and it's being led from Auckland.

Professor Innes Asher, head of paediatrics at the University of Auckland and chair of the Global Asthma Network, says asthma is becoming a significant problem in low- to middle-income countries.

It could be relatively simple to alleviate the burden – but it will require political will and commitment.

She's calling for a more "more coordinated and systematic approach" to fighting asthma – saying in New Zealand it still costs too much to see the doctor and get prescriptions.

Watch the video for the full interview.

source: newshub archive