Asthma Society of Ireland Opening Statement

ASI’s Asthma Demonstration Programme was launched in 2009 and modelled on a FinnishProgramme. Funded entirely by ASI, it investigated the feasibility and benefits of structured,guideline based asthma treatment in primary care. 778 patients and 114 healthcareprofessionals took part, with 92% of healthcare professionals reporting that their patients’asthma control had improved. It was adopted in 2011 by the HSE as the basis for the NationalAsthma Programme (NAP), part of the Chronic Disease Programme.The aims of NAP may seem ambitious; however the results of the Finnish National AsthmaProgramme and ASI’s Demonstration Programme, as well as a wealth of international research,suggests that the health benefits of structured, guideline based asthma treatment in primarycare are immense, both to the patients and to an overburdened hospital system.Initial plans were for implementation of NAP to begin in 2012 however; The first phase of patients are yet to be enrolled in NAP No funding has been allocated in the 2013 HSE Service Plan GP contracts must be negotiated with the IMO Training of health care professionals is required IT systems must be put inplace, with a unique patient identifier system implemented across the entirehealth system Inequity of access to medication for severe asthma which is recommendedby national and international treatment guidelines.NAP implementation on a phased basis would be the single most important state healthintervention for asthma suffers. As mentioned earlier, a child or adult with poorly controlledmild to moderate asthma is as likely to die from an asthma attack as someone with severeasthma. For this reason it is imperative that all asthma sufferers are included in NAP.8