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World Asthma Day 2025 : Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL

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Medically Reviewed by Dr. Aman Priya Khanna
Written by Kirti V, last updated on 6 May 2025| min read
World Asthma Day 2025 : Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL

Quick Summary

  • 262 million people globally live with asthma in 2024.
  • Asthma claims over 450,000 lives annually.
  • Most asthma deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Underdiagnosis and limited access to treatment are major contributing factors.

Every breath matters. Yet in 2024, an estimated 262 million people worldwide were living with asthma — and shockingly, over 450,000 lives are lost each year to this manageable condition. According to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), the majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where underdiagnosis and limited access to effective inhaled treatments remain critical challenges.

What is World Asthma Day?

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by GINA to raise awareness and improve asthma care globally. Since 1998, it has been observed on the first Tuesday of May each year, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, patients, and advocates to take action.

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Why the 2025 Theme Matters

In 2025, the theme “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL” goes beyond a message — it’s a call to action. It urges the global community to break down barriers in healthcare, ensure affordable access to life-saving medications, and give every asthma patient the right to breathe freely, regardless of geography or income.

Why Inhaled Treatments Are Essential?

It goes without saying that the cornerstone of asthma management is inhaled treatments. But still, for clarity, here’s why they are essential for asthma patients:

  1. Targeted Medication for Quick Relief: Medication reaches straight to the bronchial tubes, helping open the airways effectively and quickly. Direct delivery results in fast medication action and smaller doses than injected or oral medications, reducing the chances of side effects.

  1. Rapid Relief from Symptoms: Quick-relief inhalers contain bronchodilators such as short-acting beta-agonists (e.g., albuterol). These relax the muscles tightening around the airways. As a result, they rapidly open to ease breathing during an asthma attack or symptom flare-up.

  1. Long-Term Control and Prevention: Swelling, mucus production, and inflammation are the major contributors to asthma symptoms and attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids help reduce these. Even when symptoms are absent, regular use of preventative inhalers works wonders. It reduces sensitivity to triggers, helps maintain airway health, and prevents exacerbations.

  1. Dual Action Therapy for Better Management: Certain inhalers blend corticosteroids with long-acting bronchodilators, helping to lower inflammation while keeping the airways open for longer durations. This combination offers better overall asthma control and helps prevent the risk of severe attacks.

  1. Reduced Side Effects: Inhaled medications directly target the lungs, resulting in fewer systemic side effects than oral steroids or other systemic treatments. This localized action makes inhaled therapy a safer option for long-term use.

  1. Enables Normal Active Life: Effective inhaled treatment allows people with asthma to control their symptoms and lead everyday, active lives by preventing attacks and managing daily symptoms.

Barriers to Access: What’s Holding Us Back?

Asthma patients face various barriers to accessing and effectively using inhaled treatments. These include:

  1. Healthcare System and Access Barriers

Restrictions in proper diagnosis, treatment initiation and ongoing management result from limited access to primary care physicians and asthma specialists availability. This is the case, especially in marginalized or underserved communities. 

There are delays in timely care by a specialist because of referral requirements and long wait times. Insurance limitations, including caps on specialist visits and higher co-pays, also increase financial burden and reduce access to optimal care.

  1. Economic Barriers

The high cost of inhalers and asthma medications has become a major barrier for low-income patients and those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Limited availability in public healthcare settings often pushes them toward unaffordable private options. 

Do you know? In LMICs, where 96% of asthma deaths occur, access to inhaled corticosteroids remains scarce. Many skip doses or stop their treatment early because of financial strain. 

Even in high-income countries, high costs contribute to poor asthma control despite the availability of effective treatments.

  1. Knowledge and Communication Barriers

Many asthma patients don’t fully understand their condition or correct ways to use their inhalers. This confusion makes them less likely to use inhalers regularly or correctly. 

Moreover, cultural and language differences between healthcare providers and patients sometimes affect the understanding of inhaler techniques. Also, there are misbeliefs about medication necessity, and fear of dependence reduces willingness to use inhalers consistently.

  1. Practical and Environmental Barriers

Transportation issues can prevent asthma patients from attending medical appointments or refilling prescriptions. Living conditions and environmental factors like dust mites, mould and air pollution can make asthma worse and harder to manage. 

Other health problems, such as depression or memory issues, may also affect a person’s ability to stick to their inhaler routine.

How You Can Help: Advocacy and Action

The fight for accessible asthma care needs collective effort. So yes, your role matters if you are a healthcare professional, policy maker, pharma stakeholder, or simply someone who cares.

  • Advocate for policy reforms to include essential asthma medications in public health programs.

  • Support non-profit distribution models and affordability initiatives.

  • Encourage asthma patients to actively manage their condition and advocate for their needs. 

  • Spread awareness on social media and within your community.

Let’s work together to ensure no one struggles to breathe due to lack of access.

Conclusion: A Breath of Hope

World Asthma Day 2025 reminds us that breathing should not be a privilege. With millions still lacking access to essential inhaled treatments, the time to act is now.

Let’s unite under this year’s theme — “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL” — and commit to making equity in asthma care a reality.

References

All the articles on HexaHealth are supported by verified medically-recognized sources such as; peer-reviewed academic research papers, research institutions, and medical journals. Our medical reviewers also check references of the articles to prioritize accuracy and relevance. Refer to our detailed editorial policy for more information.


  1. Kwok PCL, Momin MAM, Eedara BB, Chow SF. Editorial: Strategies to overcome the barriers to effective inhaled treatments. Frontiers in Drug Delivery. 2023 Jul 19;3.link
  2. World Health Organization. Asthma [Internet]. World Health Organization. 2024. link
  3. Virchow JC, Crompton GK, Dal Negro R, Pedersen S, Magnan A, Seidenberg J, et al. Importance of inhaler devices in the management of airway disease. Respiratory Medicine [Internet]. 2008 Jan;102(1):10–9. link
  4. Mayo Clinic. Asthma - diagnosis and treatment [Internet]. Mayoclinic.org. Mayo Clinic; 2022. link
  5. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Asthma Treatment [Internet]. Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. 2021. link
  6. Liang TZ, Chao JH. Inhaled Corticosteroids [Internet]. Nih.gov. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.link
  7. Inhaled Asthma Medications | AAAAI [Internet]. Aaaai.org. 2021 [cited 2021 Oct 25]. link
  8. Cleveland Clinic. Inhalers [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. 2023. link
  9. NHS . Treatment - Asthma [Internet]. NHS. 2021.link
  10. Papi A, Blasi F, Canonica GW, Morandi L, Richeldi L, Rossi A. Treatment strategies for asthma: reshaping the concept of asthma management. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology [Internet]. 2020 Aug 15;16(1). link
  11. Wasserman N. Understanding Barriers to Asthma Treatment [Internet]. GHLF.org. 2023. link
  12. Wasserman N. Understanding Barriers to Asthma Treatment [Internet]. GHLF.org. 2023. link
  13. Riley IL, Jackson B, Crabtree D, Riebl S, Que LG, Pleasants R, et al. A Scoping Review of International Barriers to Asthma Medication Adherence Mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology In practice [Internet]. 2021 Jan 1;9(1):410-418.e4.link

Last Updated on: 6 May 2025

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational and learning purposes only. It doesn't cover every medical condition and might not be relevant to your personal situation. This information isn't medical advice, isn't meant for diagnosing any condition, and shouldn't replace talking to a certified medical or healthcare professional.

Reviewer

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

Dr. Aman Priya Khanna

MBBS, DNB General Surgery, Fellowship in Minimal Access Surgery, FIAGES

12 Years Experience

Dr Aman Priya Khanna is a well-known General Surgeon, Proctologist and Bariatric Surgeon currently associated with HealthFort Clinic, Health First Multispecialty Clinic in Delhi. He has 12 years of experience in General Surgery and worke...View More

Author

Kirti V

Kirti V

B.A. English | M.A. English ( Magadh University, Bihar)

3 Years Experience

With 3 years of full-time experience as an SEO content writer, she has honed her skills to deliver captivating and persuasive writing that leaves a lasting impact. She is always ready to learn new things and expand...View More

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