On Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) is urging governments, industry, and global health agencies to work together to close a dangerous gap in access to affordable inhaled medicines for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
The call comes as FIRS continues its Increasing Access to Inhaled Medicines campaign, which highlights the more than 650 million adults and children living with a chronic respiratory disease, most of whom cannot access affordable inhaled medicines leading to preventable hospitalizations, disability, and loss of life.
“Studies show that inhalers are affordable in less than 30% of healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries and where they are available, they often cost more than a week’s wages for a single month’s supply,” Professor Guy Marks, President of FIRS and The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said.
Governments must ensure that effective inhaled medicines are not only on Essential Medicines Lists but also on Health Reimbursement Lists covered by health insurance schemes so that all patients can afford them — without financial hardship,” said Professor David Halpin from the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
The FIRS campaign calls on governments, industry, and global health agencies to work together to:
- Include recommended inhaled medicines in national essential medicines lists and universal health coverage benefit packages
- Improve registration, quality assurance, and reliable supply of inhalers
- Ensure fair pricing and sustainable procurement mechanisms
Increasing access to inhaled medicines will contribute to the target of at least 80% availability of essential NCD medicine at affordable prices across primary health care facilities in all countries by 2030. This is the target agreed by governments at the recent High-level Meeting on NCDs at the UN General Assembly in September 2025.