Australia’s peak lung health organisations have issued an urgent call to overcome a funding crisis that is crippling lung health research in the country.
Lung Foundation Australia and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) warn that without additional financing efforts to address potentially life-threatening conditions such as asthma, COPD and lung cancer will stall.
“Respiratory disease is a leading cause of premature death in Australia and a key contributor to hospital expenditure,” TSANZ President Professor Peter Gibson said.
“Investing in research will reduce the burden of disease and improve the health of millions of Australians, but it won’t happen without funding, and right now, this is negligently low,” he said.
“Lung disease has to attract the same level of research funding enjoyed by other disease areas such as breast, prostate, and heart disease,” Lung Foundation Australia Chair Professor Christine Jenkins said.
To address the crisis the organisations are launching a new research program that is appealing to the general public for funds. “Lungs for Life” is being launched from Perth on Saturday where lung health experts are convening for TSANZ’s Annual Scientific Meeting running from April 2-6.
“We appeal to everyone out there to consider supporting our new Lungs for Life research program,” Prof Jenkins said.
“Together we are calling on the general community, as well as the Australian government, to turn this research crisis around,” she said. “A donation to Lungs for Life is an investment in the health of our community.
Respiratory disease affects people of all ages. Infants are most affected by infections such as pneumonia and influenza, whilst asthma has a major impact on children and young adults. In older Australians, lung cancer and COPD are leading causes of death.
In 2011-12, an estimated 6.3 million Australians suffered from a chronic respiratory condition. In that same year, 276, 505 Australians were hospitalised due to lung disease – a staggering 757 hospitalisations per day, representing three per cent of all hospitalisations.
“Research is one of the most effective ways to improve the prevention, detection, treatment and management of lung disease. But research doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” concluded Gibson and Jenkins.
To find out more about Lungs for Life or make a donation please visit www.thoracic.org.au
