The Asthma Drug Facility (ADF) provided affordable access to quality assured essential asthma

drugs. It was established by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease with the
support of partners such as the World Health Organization. Currently attempts are being made to
transfer ADF functions to other international agencies.
Asthma - On the global agenda for improved health and reduction of poverty?
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It is estimated that about 300 million people
worldwide currently suffer from asthma. Asthma kills about 200 thousand people every year. Although asthma
cannot be cured, it can be treated and managed effectively. The severity of asthma can be reduced
dramatically. A persons quality of life can be significantly improved. Asthma has been identified as a major
global public health problem and international guidelines exist. However, in the developing world, where the
majority of the worlds asthmatics live, almost all cases of asthma go undiagnosed, untreated or mistreated. By
causing unnecessary disability and expense, asthma is significantly increasing the poverty of individuals and
countries. People with asthma are less able to work or look after their families. Children with asthma are likely
to miss much of their primary education. Emergency visits, hospitalisation and inappropriate treatments are a
huge financial drain on struggling health systems.
Access - Who has access to essential asthma medicines?
The World Health Organizations essential medicine list includes affordable inhaled corticosteroids (e.g.
Beclometasone) and bronchodilators (e.g. Salbutamol). A standardised asthma management programme
using these drugs has been clearly demonstrated as cost-effective. So why arent all countries benefiting from
the essential asthma medicines they need to implement the international guidelines? The main barrier is
access poor availability and affordability of these drugs. For example, Beclometasone has simply not been
made available in many developing countries. In those developing countries where it has been available, its
price is unnecessarily high. Neither health services nor patients can afford it.
The Asthma Drug Facility - How did the ADF work?
The ADF aimed to be an efficient, transparent, sustainable mechanism that:
pooled requests from qualifying programmes to obtain the affordable prices for quality assured essential
asthma medicines
used competitive processes to keep prices as low as possible
ensured only products of assured quality were supplied
provided technical assistance
What did ADF aim to achieve?
make essential asthma medicines available and affordable for people in developing countries on a
sustainable basis
improve the standardisation of treatment regimens
assist countries to develop effective asthma management programmes
reduce unnecessary expense caused by emergency visits, hospitalisation, and ineffective, inappropriate
drugs
improve the quality of life of children and adults with asthma
improve the ability of health systems to respond adequately to respiratory health in general
provide the asthma medicines that are crucial for implementation of the Practical Approach to Lung health
(PAL)
help gain more accurate global estimates about the epidemiological and financial burden of asthma
increase commitment of governments and donors to investing in asthma as a means of reducing poverty
reinforce international efforts for universal access to all essential medicines
Version: 21 October 2013

TITULO: The Asthma

PLANTEAMIENTO DEL PROBLEMA:

Who has access to essential asthma medicines?

OBJETIVOS:

GENERAL: determinathion the quality of life of children and adults with asthma
ESPECIFICOS:

Analizar los distintos mbitos de desarrollo de la anorexia.

Identific essential asthma medicines available and affordable.
Determiner the ability of health systems to respond adequately to respiratory health in general

HIPOTESIS: The main barrier is access poor availability and affordability of these drugs.
POBLACION: children and adults
MUESTRA: test
AMBITO DE ESTUDIO: many developing
RECOLECCION DE DATOS:
It is estimated that about 300 million people