Death rates from respiratory disease in Ireland are the second highest in Europe, according to a major new study published today.
The only country with a higher rate is Kyrgyzstan, formerly part of the Soviet Union.
Deaths from the disease in Ireland now exceed those from heart disease and the cost to the health service is over €437m a year.
The 'Inhale' report from the Irish Thoracic Society says that survival rates for lung cancer are very low and Ireland's record in tackling lung disease has fallen, when compared with other countries.
It calls for a properly funded respiratory strategy given that the disease causes one in five deaths.
The report says that respiratory tuberculosis remains a significant problem and that Ireland has not yet met World Health Organisation goals in terms of tuberculosis elimination.
Five years after the publication of the first Inhale report on respiratory diseases, the authors say that Ireland has a long way to go to deal with the burden of lung disease, which is a major cause of death and suffering for tens of thousands of people each year.
It points out that asthma is now the most common chronic childhood disease and that over 600 Irish children with cystic fibrosis face particular difficulties, given the lack of suitable isolation facilities and specialist nurses.
