A new piece of medication for a chronic respiratory disease has been added to the government formulary.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) is a medicine which will be made available for free on the government formulary for those who suffer from chronic respiratory illness, Deputy Prime Minster and Health Minister Chris Fearne explained on Wednesday.

Fearne announced this during a press conference held at Mater Dei Hospital, where he said that around 6,000 people will benefit from LAMAs.

“LAMAs is a medicine, in the form of an inhaler which the individual can take at home in their own comfort with no need to go to hospital, which means that this benefits both the individual and the hospital itself as there will be less of a burden on hospital resources,” explained Fearne.

He said that the medicine will be available for those suffering from heavy Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is most common in smokers.

He said that people who suffer from COPD are often admitted to hospital after suffering from an infection or respiratory attack.

“LAMAs will help such individuals, as the inhaler can be taken once daily in the comfort of their own homes, and hopefully reduce the risk and increase of respiratory attacks for these individuals.”