“The TGA has advised the Department that DES is not a therapeutic good currently on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and is not currently available via any avenue of supply in Australia. As such, it is not the role of the TGA to provide information about DES or to promote public health messages to DES exposed women”.
[Correspondence 16/2/09 by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing]
The situation described above is dire, not only for those affected by DES exposure, but for Australians affected by any other harmful drug on the market which might be withdrawn from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. The absurdity is that this policy allows a drug, dangerous enough to have important warnings issued, to then be deemed not dangerous enough to continue warning those affected after the drug is made unavailable.
The risk in this policy is that following the drug’s cancellation from the Register, the Department of Health and Ageing may decide not to issue further vital health information to the unfortunate victims of the drug. This is precisely the case for DES exposed Australians where the Department holds the opinion that promoting information about DES creates community anxiety. DES was on the Register for usage in prostate cancer until 1992 when it was cancelled.
Added note 27/7/09:
This month, DES Action Australia-NSW wrote to the Australian Chief Medical Officer requesting his personal assistance in rectifying this matter, so that accountability in promoting public health messages about DES is maintained similarly as before. In reply (23 July 09) we are assured the Department and the TGA are working together to ensure that updated information will continue to be available to DES women. This is unconvincing whilst ever the Department and TGA continue in policy/opinion not to promote health messages about DES directly to the public. Also, without one section of the Department wholly accountable for this task, there is real risk of the responsibility for this extremely serious health issue being transferred across sections of the Department.
To the complete detriment of DES exposed Australians, the Department continues to ignore the fact that many people remain unaware of their exposure and the potential adverse health effects of DES. By only placing information about DES on Department websites, this is simply not enough when many people remain unaware of the health dangers of DES.
DES Action Australia-NSW will continue lobbying on this matter and urges anyone affected to subscribe to the organisation to receive firsthand any vital health information about DES.
1 comment:
Stilboestral or DES was and hopefully is no longer used as a de-lactate for unwed young and vulnerable natural mothers without their knowing in most cases.
The consistent stonealling of any implications into the outcomes of adverse health effects of these 'guinea-pigs' or 'scapegoats' is abhorrent and a reflection on the drug compnaies inability to be accountable.
How many women and girls have been impacted by this damaging drug?
Do the drug companies care, and are they principled? the answer is obvious by their silence, no.
Monetray gain is their bottom line.
Do they not feel any shame at all?
This drug and it's usages and practices, which were widespread, needs attention both for past and present causes and effects and compensation where necessary.
Josh Fox, they not only undermine lands they also undermine natural mothers and thier infants, and without any conscince, or so it appears.
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