Introduction

The National Asthma Strategy Implementation Plan is the result of widespread consultation and information gathering, and proposes a set of goals, targets and implementation strategies relating to asthma in Australia. It has been developed with a grant from the Department of Health and Aged Care, an important stakeholder in asthma. Implementation of the National Asthma Strategy will bring certain benefits for people with asthma and the community in health, social and economic terms.

The goals of the National Asthma Strategy are to:

reduce asthma mortality and morbidity;

identify and reduce risk factors for asthma;

achieve planned and shared responsibility for asthma that includes:
- integrated patient care
- team asthma management
- asthma education

This Implementation Plan follows the National Asthma Strategy, Goals & Targets (1994) and the National Asthma Strategy, Strategies and Implementation (1996).
The twenty-two strategies listed in this document were considered by a Working Group of major stakeholders, coordinated by the National Asthma Campaign (NAC) and as a result, sixteen strategies were prioritised. These strategies were identified as those which would most effectively, in the short to medium term,

1. significantly reduce the prevalence and severity of asthma and the risk of asthma;

2. contribute to favourable health outcomes through better understanding, skill and commitment; and

3. reduce the social and economic impact of asthma on the community.

Many people and organisations with an interest and expertise in asthma and the general health field have contributed to this document. This is reflected in the breadth and depth of activity outlined in the National Asthma Strategy Implementation Plan.

The National Asthma Campaign (NAC) coordinated and convened a Working Group comprising representatives from The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, Department of Health and Aged Care, Asthma Australia, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Asthma Educators' Associations, Consumers' Health Forum, Australian Divisions of General Practice, Asthma New South Wales, Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council and individual experts. Many other organisations were also consulted to collect information on:

current activity being undertaken
plans already underway
additional work which needs to be undertaken in the next three years.