Background: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cause a considerable burden of morbidity
and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Access to safe, effective, quality-assured, and
affordable essential medicines is variable. We aimed to review the existing literature relating to the availability, cost,
and affordability of WHO’s essential medicines for asthma and COPD in LMICs.