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New national strategy for people with asthma
The new National Asthma Strategy was officially launched by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt yesterday.
The National Asthma Strategy (the Strategy) is a five-year blueprint designed to help improve prevention, care and management for people with asthma, as well as their families, healthcare providers, researchers and the government.
The Strategy was developed by the National Asthma Council Australia in conjunction with Asthma Australia, with funding from the Department of Health. The RACGP was a member of the Strategy’s principal advisory group.
‘The Strategy demonstrates what can be achieved when government, industry and patients work together,’ RACGP Chief Executive Officer Dr Zena Burgess told newsGP. ‘This Strategy will reduce the health, social and economic impacts of asthma by improving asthma diagnosis and management for the one in 10 people in Australia living with the condition.
‘I am proud of the role the RACGP has played in its development.’
The Strategy contains five key objectives:
- Support effective self-management practices
- Develop the health professional workforce
- Enhance asthma care and management
- Create supportive community environments
- Promote research, evidence and data
Preventive measures and patient self-management are a particular focus of the Strategy.
According to the National Asthma Council Australia, 45% of Australian asthma patients don’t adhere to their management plan, 25% of adults and 40% of children with asthma have a written asthma action plan, and close to 40% of people with asthma only use reliever medicines.
‘Those numbers need to be improved significantly if we want to make an impact on asthma in Australia,’ Asthma Australia Chair David Simmons said.
‘When it comes to the asthma mortality rate and hospitalisations, we have reached a plateau over the last 20 years. Poor self-management of asthma has contributed to this and we must continue our work with people with asthma to address the reasons for poor management, to challenge myths … and provide ongoing education and support.’
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