Accra: Mr Jos© Luis Castro, World Health Organisation (WHO) Special Envoy on Chronic Respiratory Diseases, has issued a call for urgent global action to address disparities in asthma treatment and patient access. Despite the presence of effective medications, millions continue to suffer from asthma worldwide.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Castro highlighted the inconsistency in access to effective treatments like inhaled corticosteroids, particularly in low and middle-income countries. He emphasized the disconnect between scientific advancements and equitable asthma care, stating, "Today, we have the science, we have the medicine, yet for too many, the distance between life-saving treatment and the patient remains far too great."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that asthma affected 363 million people in 2023, resulting in approximately 442,000 preventable deaths annually. The majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems struggle with early diagnosis, medicine availability, and long-term patient management.
Mr. Castro expressed concern over the persistent influence of the tobacco industry, particularly through digital platforms targeting young people, describing it as a "marketing of addiction." He stressed that addressing asthma requires more than just treatment, as environmental factors are significant contributors to respiratory diseases globally.
He urged health leaders to prioritize investment in primary healthcare and ensure equitable access and universal availability of essential asthma medicines by 2027. Mr. Castro also advocated for the integration of lung health services into primary care, including routine diagnosis by 2028, aiming for measurable reductions in uncontrolled asthma and preventable hospitalizations within five years.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) estimates that between five and 10 percent of the Ghanaian population lives with asthma, with higher prevalence observed among children and urban communities. Dr. Vishnu Nene Abayateye, Senior Registrar in Pulmonology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, reported that records from the hospital's Outpatient Department (OPD) in 2025 identified asthma as a leading chronic non-communicable disease, contributing to frequent hospital visits and avoidable admissions.
Dr. Abayateye pointed out that limited access to diagnostic tools such as spirometry, along with the cost and availability of inhaled corticosteroids, remain significant barriers to effective management. He added that air pollution in urban centers like Accra and Kumasi, including exposure to dust and biomass smoke, continues to exacerbate respiratory conditions.