By Martin Banks - 28th January 2009
There are still around 1400 deaths per year, many of which could be prevented with appropriate routine and emergency care
MEP Liz Lynne on her new drive to help asthma sufferers throughout the EU
ALDE deputy Liz Lynne has launched a new initiative to help the estimated 30 million asthma sufferers in the EU.
The project, called HARP, aims to provide patients with "clear and detailed" information about the disease.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, she said, "As an asthma sufferer myself, I feel that there is a real need to make sure that information is made readily available."
The MEP chaired a roundtable debate which heard the results of a major study into asthma. It shows that 30 million people, or six per cent of the EU population, have asthma.
Asthma, it says, costs the EU €17.7bn each year, much of which could be "substantially" reduced by improving information to patients and physicians.
According to the study, 23 per cent of respondents with what it calls uncontrolled asthma had one or more days off work because of their asthma, compared to less than one per cent of respondents with controlled asthma.
It also said that 79.4 per cent of those surveyed with uncontrolled asthma reported needing to use their rescue inhaler at least once a day, compared to only 26.6 per cent of respondents with controlled asthma.
Lynne said, "More than five million people currently suffer from asthma in the UK alone, and there are still around 1400 deaths per year, many of which could be prevented with appropriate routine and emergency care.
"I hope that by promoting the benefits of improved education and training to health practitioners, much more specialist training will be made available throughout the EU."
Her comments were echoed by another keynote speaker, John Haughney, president of the international primary care respiratory group, who said, "One of the key findings of the study was that two-thirds of asthma patients currently have poor control over the disease.
"We also found there are vast differences in patient care between various member states. We want the EU to target both these issues."
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