At the event, AstraZeneca gave their commitment to fund US$1 million in order to build 150 outpatient clinics in service of the programme.
The clinics are expected to provide intensive medical care to improve the quality of asthma and COPD management, in addition to helping patients to better manage their disease, contributing to reducing morbidity and mortality from asthma and COPD, improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the burden on the health care system in Vietnam.
According to statistics, asthma affects 315 million people worldwide. Some 107 million people in the Asia-Pacific currently suffer from asthma.
In Vietnam, the prevalence of asthma accounts for 4.1% of the population, with children in the 12-13 age group having the highest rate of asthma in Asia.
Meanwhile, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is also common in Vietnam due to a high rate of smokers and will have an upward trend in the country.
According to Prof. Dr. Ngo Quy Chau, President of the Vietnam Respiratory Society, asthma and COPD in particular, and respiratory diseases in general, have not been paid proper attention in Vietnam. Asthma in Vietnam accounts for 4.1% of the population, but only 29.1% of asthma patients receive regular treatment.
