150 outpatient centres treating chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be built by AstraZeneca under the “Health lung” programme. (Photo: sggp.org.vn) Da Nang (VNA) – As many as 150 outpatient centres treating chronic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be built at total investment of 1 million USD by AstraZeneca multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company under the “Health lung” programme.
The programme was launched by the Vietnam Medical Association, the Vietnam Respiratory Society, the Vietnam Association against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases and AstraZeneca company in the central city of Da Nang on September 21.
It aims to enhance management of asthma and COPD, contributing to reducing cases and deaths.
According to President of the Vietnam Respiratory Society Ngo Quy Chau, people diagnosed with COPD accounts for 4.2 percent of total population and most of them are at the age of 40. However, only 29.1 percent of the asthma patients, who make up 4.1 percent of total population, are taking medication while 39.7 percent have good control of the disease.
Along with cigarettes and environmental pollution, pulmonary tuberculosis has increased risk of COPD, which puts a burden on society, Chau underlined.
Meanwhile, Le Thi Tuyet Lan, President of the Society of Asthma & Allergy & Clinical Immunology and Vice President of the Vietnam Respiratory Society, said that the outpatient treatment network will help reduce economic and health care burdens for Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
