Bridging the Gap in Asthma Care: Uganda’s Call for Urgent Action on Access to Lifesaving Inhalers

In commemoration of World Asthma Day 2026, the  Lung Institute in Uganda convened a high-level webinar that brought renewed attention to one of the most pressing challenges in respiratory health: access to essential asthma medicines.

Held under the global theme “Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma is still an urgent need,” the session echoed a worldwide call to action. Globally, asthma affects over 260 million people and causes more than 450,000 deaths annually most of which are preventable with proper treatment .

Opening the session, the Director General Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Uganda Dr Charles Olaro highlighted the growing but often under-recognized burden of asthma in Uganda. Current estimates indicate that asthma affects approximately 11% of adults and 18% of adolescents, with a significant proportion of cases remaining undiagnosed.

This silent burden, experts noted, contributes to avoidable suffering, repeated hospital visits, and preventable deaths particularly in settings where access to appropriate medication remains limited.

A central message from the webinar was clear: asthma management must move beyond symptom relief to long-term disease control.

Dr. Hellen Aanyu Tukamuhebwa a senior consultant Pulmonologist at mulago National Referral Hospital and paediatrician emphasized the complexities of diagnosing the condition in children, where symptoms often overlap with other respiratory illnesses.

She underscored the importance of early diagnosis and the use of inhaled corticosteroids as first-line therapy to control inflammation and prevent severe attacks.

Shifting focus to adults, Dr. Patricia Arupo a physician and research scientist at the Lung Institute in Mulago addressed the common challenge of recurrent symptoms. Drawing on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines, she cautioned against the over-reliance on short-acting relievers alone an approach that treats symptoms but leaves the underlying disease unchecked.

Instead, she advocated for a treatment model centered on anti-inflammatory inhalers, which not only control symptoms but also significantly reduce the risk of severe attacks and hospitalizations.

Despite clear clinical guidance, access to inhaled corticosteroids remains a major barrier in Uganda and many low- and middle-income countries. High costs, limited availability, and gaps in health system distribution mean that many patients rely solely on quick-relief inhalers often with dangerous consequences.

Globally, lack of access to essential inhaled medicines is a key driver of asthma-related deaths, with the majority occurring in low-resource settings .

Speakers emphasized that closing this gap requires coordinated action from policymakers and healthcare providers to supply chain systems and community awareness efforts.

The webinar concluded with a unified message: inhaled corticosteroids must become the foundation of asthma care at all levels of the health system.

Improving access is not just a clinical priority it is a public health imperative. Expanding availability of these lifesaving medicines, strengthening diagnosis, and educating both providers and patients could dramatically reduce asthma-related mortality and improve quality of life for thousands of Ugandans.

As Uganda joins the global community in marking World Asthma Day, the message is clear: ensuring equitable access to effective asthma treatment is no longer optional it is urgent.

Watch the full webinar here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX9Z6oE54ZE