Vitamins, minerals and supplements in the news
Jan 27, 2011
A recent study has shown a wide variation in access to osteoporosis drugs
A report, published by the NHS Information Centre, found major variations between local health authorities in the use of six drugs to treat and prevent the brittle bone condition, which affects up to a third of people over 50.
Category: General
Posted by: catherine
A report, published by the NHS Information Centre, found major variations between local health authorities in the use of six drugs to treat and prevent the brittle bone condition, which affects up to a third of people over 50.
The report looked at six osteoporosis drugs: alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide.
In the primary care trust (PCT) area with the lowest uptake, usage was 79 per cent lower than expected. In another, it was 632 per cent higher than expected reflecting what some people describe as a postcode lottery.
A spokesman for the National Osteoporosis Society said: "While there are excellent examples of healthcare services that assess people for osteoporosis, many healthcare providers fall behind resulting in a patchy distribution of osteoporosis services and treatment."
He added: "Recent studies show that the majority of patients with fragility fractures are simply slipping through the net."
Richard Baker, director general of the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said the report raised some "serious questions".
He went on: "Recent reports repeatedly show the UK continues to lag behind other western European countries in the uptake of most innovative medicines despite having among the lowest prices.
"So price is obviously not the only factor in patient uptake: we need to understand the other factors that influence what patients receive."