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On World Asthma Day, Asthma Australia is calling on Australia’s leaders to recognise and respond to the biggest change to asthma treatment recommendations in a generation, warning that without coordinated national leadership, the update will not deliver its full potential.
Updated national guidelines mark a fundamental shift for adults and adolescents away from relying on short-acting relievers alone (the “blue puffer”) and towards anti-inflammatory reliever treatment.
Asthma Australia CEO Kate Miranda said, “We’ve relied on blue ‘reliever puffers’ for generations, but the guidelines are clear: for adults and adolescents, treating asthma, including mild asthma, with a reliever alone leaves people exposed to serious flare-ups, including attacks that can mean emergency care or hospital — and time off school or work. The shift is to an anti-inflammatory reliever, so every time you treat symptoms, you’re also treating the inflammation that sits behind asthma.
“We need to get this information to frontline healthcare professionals now to ensure patients in Australia are receiving the best asthma care. This means embedding updated guidelines in general practice prescribing and practice software, hospital and emergency department protocols, as well as medicines funding, subsidy arrangements and approved prescribing lists.
“Consistent education for clinicians and the community must also be prioritised. Patients can get guidance and support about changes to their Asthma Action Plans and recommended medications from their trusted healthcare team, and from Asthma Australia’s national phone and digital service, Asthma Connect.”
Asthma Australia is calling on governments to formally acknowledge the scale and significance of the guideline changes and commit to a coordinated response that supports awareness, education and implementation across primary care, hospitals and health services.
Ms Miranda said, “A guideline update doesn’t automatically change what happens in GP clinics, pharmacies, hospitals and emergency departments. That takes coordinated national leadership and it’s how we make sure the evidence reaches people with asthma.”
Asthma Australia will continue working with clinicians, health organisations and policymakers to support the translation of the updated guidelines into safer, more effective asthma care nationwide.
ENDS
For more information:
Contact: CEO, Kate Miranda, 0491 137 548
ABOUT
Asthma Australia is the nation’s peak body representing nearly 2.8 million Australians living with asthma. Our work is grounded in evidence and informed by the lived experience of people with asthma. Our programs reflect a commitment to outcomes-focused, equity-driven reform, integrating community insight and clinical expertise to strengthen person centred asthma care.
