Chennai (PTI): Apollo Hospitals Group has joined hands with Lupin Limited, a leading pharma major, to create the first Disease Management Programme (DMP) for Bronchial Asthma and COPD (Chronic Bronchitis) in the name of Apollo's 'BreatheEasy Clinic'.

Apollo Hospitals CEO George Eapen said in a release here on Tuesday that this new concept of DMP would revolutionalise doctor-patent relationship and empower the patient enormously. "We have taken the first step in transforming the way lung airway diseases - Asthma and COPD - is treated in India", he said.

Quoting PricewaterhouseCoopers recent findings, George said DMP,apart from immunization and wellness, was going to be one of the important element, which would create "360 degree turn in healthcare."

Sr. General Manager - Sales & Marketing,Lupin Ltd, Preetish Toraskar said about, one in every 12 asthamatic patients in the world is an Indian.

About 50 per cent of school absenteeism and about one third of the work absenteeism was all related to asthma, he said adding about 50 per cent of asthmatic hosplitalisation and emergency visits can be prevented by patient education and awareness. "Surprisingly, only two percent of asthmatics have a 'Peak Flow Meter, a key home diagnostic tool for any patient", he added.

Under the DMP, this important tool will be given free of cost to each enrolling patient, he said.

Preetish said this joint venture by Apollo Hospitals and Lupin would open 40 clinic centres over a period of four years in not only metropolitan cities, but also tier two and three cities too.