Cash Needed to Fight Disease

British Lung Foundation Wales officials have repeated their call for extra investment so people can get healthier.

One in five people in Wales has some form of lung disease, with lung cancer killing more women than breast cancer.

And COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and an umbrella term for bronchitis and emphysema, is one of the few chronic conditions which is on the increase.

But the seriousness of the situation does not appear to be reflected in the amount of money being invested in fighting it.

“Despite the clear and urgent need to tackle lung disease, there is an imbalance between the need for research and the amount of money that is invested,” said a spokeswoman. “Less than four per cent of all money spent by the Medical Research Council is spent on lung disease.”

The foundation aims to fund world-class research into lung disease.

“Medical research can make a direct contribution to the prevention and treatment of disease, and can also lead to dramatic improvements in the quality of life of people with lung problems,” she said.

Since it started more than 20 years ago, BLF has funded pounds20 million worth of research.

(c) 2008 South Wales Evening Post. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.