Hundreds of millions living without access to inhaled medicines for COPD and asthma

A new campaign launched on World Asthma Day will raise awareness about the wide gaps in
access to inhaled medicines that are causing a massive burden of suffering for the hundreds of millions living with chronic lung diseases across the world, and significant economic costs.

The Increasing Access to Inhaled Medicines for COPD and Asthma campaign is an initiative of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), which includes the world’s leading international professional respiratory societies.

Asthma and COPD affect 652 million and kill 4.1 million people every year making them the third highest cause of death globally, according to the Global Burden of Disease.

While both are manageable with inhaled medicines, without them patients struggle to lead normal lives and are at an increased risk of flare-ups, which can be distressing, disruptive, and life-threatening. Frequent hospital visits, lost school and work days, forfeited wages, and reduced productivity take a high economic toll.