Asthma Australia and Bird Healthcare Extend 15-Year Partnership

Helping More Medicine Reach the Lungs: Asthma Australia and Bird Healthcare Extend 15-Year Partnership

Asthma Australia and Bird Healthcare have extended our 15-year partnership for another three years, reinforcing our shared commitment to improving access to inhaled asthma therapies and devices – including spacers – and strengthening education about their vital role in managing asthma. Together, we will continue supporting hospitals, primary care, pharmacies, First Nations communities, and the wider community in Australia.

Every year, nearly 2.8 million Australians treat their asthma using asthma preventers and relievers, with several asthma treatment options delivered via a pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI). Spacers are devices that are recommended for use with pMDI inhalers because they are clinically proven to increase the amount of asthma medicine from a PMDI that reaches the lungs.

Without a spacer, 80 per cent of the asthma medicine can be caught in the throat and mouth, never reaching the lungs where it’s needed. This can lead to poorer asthma outcomes for people using medicine, as prescribed, and adds cost of medicine wastage.

General practitioners and pharmacists play a crucial role in helping patients, especially adults, understand why using a spacer with a pMDI is recommended, and how it delivers both health benefits and cost savings.

Bird Healthcare and Asthma Australia have been leading education about, and access to, spacers since 2010 for regular, prescribed asthma treatment and in emergencies, particularly in hospital settings.

Through the partnership Bird Healthcare supports Asthma Australia’s efforts to provide discounted spacers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, helping to close the gap in respiratory health outcomes.

Additionally, e-chamber serves as the key asthma spacer partner for The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, providing custom-branded spacers for First Nations communities.

Kate Miranda, CEO of Asthma Australia, said “Our partnership is a shared commitment to improving the lives of people with asthma. Spacers can greatly enhance the delivery of asthma medication, making treatment more effective, especially when symptoms suddenly worsen or urgent care is needed.”

“We want every person with asthma who uses an inhaler (pMDI) device to understand why spacers are so important and how to use them properly, because they can help people with asthma manage their condition effectively.”

Tim Boult, Director of Bird Healthcare said: “At Bird Healthcare, we’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of spacer technology to improve lives. Our partnership with Asthma Australia is a game-changer, helping us bring vital medical devices to communities that need them most.

“Spacers are often overlooked, but they can make a world of difference in how well asthma medication works, for both adults and kids alike. We’re on a mission to educate everyone about their importance and ensure they’re used correctly.

“We’re dedicated to making spacers affordable and accessible for all. By continuously innovating and expanding our reach, we aim to support more people globally in managing their respiratory health effectively.”

Bird Healthcare, an Australian-owned company, has been at the forefront of spacer innovation for over two decades. Asthma Australia is the peak consumer body and charity for people with asthma.

For information about spacer use, direct patients to asthma.org.au/devices-techniques/puffer-and-spacer/

ENDS

For more information:

Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82