Dr G.A.C Major MBBS FRACP Provider Number: 0067645X …
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Dr G.A.C Major MBBS FRACP Provider Number: 0067645X HUNTER NEW ENGLAND NSW~HEALTH /\ ',' Director of Rheumatology Newcastle Bone and Joint Institute The Royal Newcastle Centre PO Box 664J NEWCASTLE NSW 2300 . \ f) : I c, -, o. :------ ->. \ .' GACM:ks 19 th February, 2010 Committee Secretary Senate Community Affairs References Committee P.O. Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Sir, RE: INQUIRY INTO CONSUMER ACCESS TO PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS Bisphosphonates:- interchangability Creation of therapeutic group for purposes of drug As a practitioner of over the thirty years standing, engaged in the treatment of patients with bone and Joint diseases, I am concerned about the proposal that the differences between bisphosphonates are so minor that the various drugs in this class can be regarded as being interchangeable. I am particularly concerned on the basis of safety and the emerging issue that bisphosphonates paradoxically, rather then prevent fractures, may actually lead to an increased risk of femoral (thigh bone) fractures. As the risk of such fractures seems to be preferentially linked to bisphosphonates with a high binding affinity and long duration of effect, I am concerned that as a consequence of this determination, I will no longer, by virtue of a cost obstacle, be able to prescribe the most appropriate bisphosphonate to my patients, most of whom are of limited financial means, and that I may be puttmg them at risk. The effects of a fractured hip on an elderly person are properly recognised to be truly devastating, and the prevention of these fractures is rightly the paramount goal of osteoporosis management. It would be an irony therefore to be forced to use drugs that may prove to have the paradoxic side effect of after some years of treatment actually creating a situation where patients are at risk of sustaining fractures of the femoral shaft, with equally devastating effects. I ask therefore for consideration of these matters and request that approval for implementation of the proposal be withheld. GABO~ DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF RHEUMATOLOGY Hunter New England Area Health Service ABN 24 SOOH42 ()()S ":~~YiJ1.!lllllh.n.~"Y."gQ.y',.~y
Transcript of Dr G.A.C Major MBBS FRACP Provider Number: 0067645X …
Dr G.A.C MajorMBBS FRACPProvider Number: 0067645X
HUNTER NEW ENGLANDNSW~HEALTH
/\','
Director of RheumatologyNewcastle Bone and Joint InstituteThe Royal Newcastle CentrePO Box 664JNEWCASTLE NSW 2300
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GACM:ks
19th February, 2010
Committee SecretarySenate Community Affairs References CommitteeP.O. Box 6100Parliament HouseCanberra ACT 2600
Dear Sir,
RE: INQUIRY INTO CONSUMER ACCESS TO PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS
Bisphosphonates:-interchangability
Creation of therapeutic group for purposes of drug
As a practitioner of over the thirty years standing, engaged in the treatment of patients with boneand Joint diseases, I am concerned about the proposal that the differences betweenbisphosphonates are so minor that the various drugs in this class can be regarded as beinginterchangeable.
I am particularly concerned on the basis of safety and the emerging issue that bisphosphonatesparadoxically, rather then prevent fractures, may actually lead to an increased risk of femoral(thigh bone) fractures. As the risk of such fractures seems to be preferentially linked tobisphosphonates with a high binding affinity and long duration of effect, I am concerned that as aconsequence of this determination, I will no longer, by virtue of a cost obstacle, be able toprescribe the most appropriate bisphosphonate to my patients, most of whom are of limitedfinancial means, and that I may be puttmg them at risk.
The effects of a fractured hip on an elderly person are properly recognised to be truly devastating,and the prevention of these fractures is rightly the paramount goal of osteoporosis management.It would be an irony therefore to be forced to use drugs that may prove to have the paradoxic sideeffect of after some years of treatment actually creating a situation where patients are at risk ofsustaining fractures of the femoral shaft, with equally devastating effects.
I ask therefore for consideration of these matters and request that approval for implementation ofthe proposal be withheld.
GABO~DIRECTORDEPARTMENT OF RHEUMATOLOGY
Hunter New England Area Health ServiceABN 24 SOOH42 ()()S
":~~YiJ1.!lllllh.n.~"Y."gQ.y',.~y
