A new National Asthma Strategy will be developed to address the toll the condition has on the lives of more than two million Australians.

Health Minister Peter Dutton said today the Government would engage the National Asthma Council and provide $200,000 in funding to develop and implement the strategy. 

“Most Australians will have had a personal experience with asthma or have witnessed the difficulties it has caused to a family member or friend,” Mr Dutton said. 

The condition can cause prolonged coughing, shortness of breath, trips to hospital emergency departments, and even death. While the prevalence of asthma in Australia is high by international standards, its underlying causes are still not well understood. 

“For these reasons and more, we need to renew our efforts through a National Asthma Strategy that provides a framework for action to reduce its impact on the community and economy. It will work to find effective and efficient ways to prevent, treat and manage the condition.”

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2014-dutton094.htm