Thousands miss out on vital asthma jabs as GPs don't know they exist

[Sly Saint]

Apostcode lottery means fewer than two per cent of asthma patients in parts of the country are offered potentially life-saving drug treatments.

Experts say this is because many GPs are not aware of the injections, so they do not refer patients to specialists.

The injections – called biologics – cut the number of hospitalisations and mean severe asthmatics do not have to rely on inhalers.

But new research shows that fewer than 16 per cent of eligible asthma patients have been offered the drugs.

At this rate, it would take until 2061 for just half of those who need biologics to access them.

Nearly a third of eligible patients in Derby have been able to get a biologic prescription, but fewer than two per cent in Frimley, Surrey, have benefited.

Experts are calling on the NHS to ensure equal access to the crucial asthma medicine nationwide.

Thousands miss out on vital asthma jabs as GPs don't know they exist

 

[Ash]

https://www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/media...-leaflet-omalizumab-xolair-rde-20-207-001.pdf

 

[rvallee]

Could it be because the costs are immediate but the benefits are long-term and so will not bear fruit for decades?

I would be truly shocked if it wasn't. One of the problems with health care being a major political issue, even though almost nothing changes whoever is in charge, is that long-term benefits that have significant short-term expenses are very unpopular, since the government in charge won't benefit from giving the go-ahead.

Then again it could simply be that giant bureaucracies with little to no incentives to improve things are generally dysfunctional and can't tell their ass from a hole in the ground. Probably waiting for the costs to come down even if overall the savings are significant.

 

[Ash]

I think it’s partly cost and lack of experience.

But it might mostly be because these injections are biologics which suppress your immune system, controlling the asthma but leaving you at higher risk from infection.