Urgent call as children go without asthma medication

The new Asthma Society of Ireland research has sparked calls to the Government to act. 

The survey reveals that 46% of parents say asthma places a financial strain on their household, and 9% reported going without prescribed medication during the previous three months because of its expensiveness. 

In its 2027 Pre-Budget Submission, they are asking for free MART inhalers for children aged 12–17. 

These inhalers are recommended as the preferred treatment for people around that age, simplifying asthma management, reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Eilís Ní Chaithnía, CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, said: “Asthma is increasingly a cost-of-living issue, an equality issue and a public health issue. No family should have to decide whether they can afford the medication their child needs,” said Ms Ní Chaithnía.

“We know which treatments are recommended. We know they reduce severe asthma attacks, improve quality of life and help keep people out of hospital. Yet financial pressure continues to put this care beyond the reach of too many families.”

Consequences take a toll beyond family expenses, including children - with asthma - missing school, or experiencing disturbed sleep. Almost half of the parents have taken time off work to take care of their child with asthma. 

There’s a general concern over the worrying rates of asthma in Ireland, due to the country having the second-highest asthma mortality rate in the European Union, and  with approximately 450,000 people being diagnosed.

81 people died from asthma in Ireland in 2023. Provisional figures indicate 94 deaths in 2024, which many of them potentially could be prevented through timely diagnosis and equitable access to recommended treatment.

Despite asthma being a condition that can be effectively managed, avoidable hospital admissions in Ireland remain double the EU average. 

This also impacts the Irish healthcare system and economy, costing the State an estimated €1.2 billion annually. 

Adolescents are one of the main focus because that age is one of the most critical stages in asthma management, as youngsters get more responsibility for taking care of their condition on their own, but become less consistent with it. 

Many teenagers rely on reliever inhalers rather than preventative treatment, increasing the risk of avoidable asthma attacks and emergency hospital admissions.

One mum, Michelle Cusack, says her daughter Gemma has been profoundly affected by her asthma.

“After Gemma had a severe asthma attack, she went from being a world champion kickboxer to being afraid to train again. Moving to a MART inhaler has made a huge difference to how well her asthma is controlled, but the cost of managing her condition still places a real strain on our family every month,” she said.

“Watching your child struggle to breathe is something no parent should ever experience. I hope this Budget will ensure that every young person with asthma can access the care they need, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.”

To find out more about the Asthma Society of Ireland and its services, visit www.asthma.ie.