PESHAWAR, Dec 23: National clinical guidelines for management of asthma: a respiratory disorder and a serious global health problem, has been launched by Pakistan Chest Society (PCS).

The launching ceremony was held on Saturday night at a local hotel in connection with National Asthma Day observed on December 22.

The NWFP minister for education, Imtiaz Gillani, was chief guest. Speaking at the occasion, president PCS, professor Arshad Javaid said that around 150 million people have been diagnosed with asthma throughout the world. Thirty-two per cent are children, and 10 per cent are in Pakistan.

The financial and economic cost of asthma treatment is more than of TB and HIV, he informed. Other speakers were Prof Nasir-u-din Azam Khan and general secretary PCS, Dr Abdul Ghafoor. —APP