As asthma is not a notifiable disease, there are no precise statistics available on the number of people with the condition in Ireland. The Asthma Society of Ireland estimates that there are in excess of 250,000 persons with the condition here. This figure includes intermittent sufferers with irregular medication needs.
The long-term illness scheme entitles persons to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of a specific schedule of illnesses. There are no plans to extend the scheme to include asthma, having regard to the other schemes available to help people with the cost of drugs and medicines.