CBI member, GSK has launched phase 2 of its Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment and diagnosis project in Beijing.
COPD is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and refractory (chronic asthma). Latest research has shown that there are 99.9 million COPD patients in China, over 80% of whom haven’t received proper medical treatment, such as lung function tests.
As a result of the high levels of industrial pollution in China, lung cancer tops China’s malignant tumour incidence rate, recording 730,000 new lung cancer patients in 2015. This statistic accounts for nearly 36% of the world’s total.
GSK’s “Xing Fu Hu Xi” (Happy Breath) campaign has been designed to better promote the implementation of the national policy for tiered treatment of COPD, and to promote standardised and long-term management of COPD across various levels of healthcare institutions.
During Phase One of the Happy Breath Campaign, more than 200,000 people received COPD screening and over 15,000 people conducted the lung function test.
With Phase Two, GSK hopes to involve a further 1,500 medical institutions to the scheme and add to the current 8 pilot areas (Gansu, Guizhou, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong and Henan) by including Zhejiang province and expanding into two subsequent provinces.
The second phase of the project also aims to build on GSK’s recently launched online training system for COPD diagnosis. Launched in June 2018, GSK’s new platform allows doctors to study towards certification in standardised COPD diagnosis and treatment. According to GSK’s Phase One Report, around 120,000 pulmonary specialists participated in online activities organised as part of the Happy Breath Campaign.
Thomas Willemsen, General Manager, GSK China said, “GSK has over 30 years of experience in respiratory diseases in China and is committed to improving public healthcare capabilities in chronic airways diseases, including COPD […] the project will provide clinical data to drive the implementation of government policy on COPD tiered diagnosis and treatment. It will help to enhance disease management for COPD among physicians of all levels and provide guidelines for appropriate medication, so as to reduce the disease burden of COPD patients and improve their quality of life.”
Please read more about GSK’s work to tackle respiratory diseases in China here.
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