World Asthma Day

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PDF printable version of World Asthma Day (PDF 17 KB)

6 May 2008

Asthma, which now affects more than one in six Australian children, can be better controlled if asthma action plans are prepared or updated with the help of family doctors.

World Asthma Day today (6 May 2008) is more relevant than ever in Australia, as more than two million people, or 10.3 per cent of the total population, has asthma.

This is high by international standards and the Australian Government wants to stem the tide. Children, in particular, are affected by asthma - a common reason for emergency department visits and hospitalisation.

The Government is focused on prevention and best practice management of chronic diseases such as asthma - one of the nation’s eight national health priority areas.

All Australians with asthma are encouraged to heed World Asthma Day’s message: ‘You can control your asthma’. This is the time to prepare or update personal asthma action plans, to help people recognise if their symptoms are getting worse and what action is required.

One of the ways the Government is reinforcing this message is through Medicare, which allows people with asthma to develop a ‘cycle of care’ asthma action plan with their GP.

In addition, the Government has committed $27.1 million from 2005 until 2009 under the Asthma Management Program.

Measures under the program include more training for GPs and allied health professionals on asthma management and more community-based support and education for those with asthma and their carers, all of whom play a vital role in managing asthma.

The Australian Government subsidises treatments for asthma through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule which include symptom controllers, non-steroid preventers, inhaled corticosteroid preventers and combination therapies.

This expenditure through the PBS costs more than $280 million a year.


Media contact: Mark Ward – 0437 125 938
For all other inquiries, contact Ms Roxon's office, 02 72777220.