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November 24, 2008
A revealing report released today by Osteoporosis Canada offers solid
evidence that our publicly-funded health care system is failing large numbers of Canadians who suffer painful
wrist, spine, and hip fractures as a result of osteoporosis.
One in four women and at least one in eight men over the age of 50 have
osteoporosis, yet only a small number of these Canadians are being referred for bone mineral density (BMD)
testing, an essential tool in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Those who are referred may
face long wait times depending on where they live. Further, access to publicly-funded drug treatment
options that can help prevent fractures varies dramatically across the country, and in some provinces,
individuals with osteoporosis are unable to access them.
Breaking Barriers, Not
Bones, is the first large-scale national Report
Card of its kind to assess and grade Canadians’ access to BMD testing and osteoporosis medications on
provincial/territorial drug benefit plans across the country. The report also looked at various
provincial initiatives undertaken to help in the care of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Canada’s Report
Card Committee produced the report in an effort to highlight provincial activity related to osteoporosis
care. The Committee evaluated information and data provided by provincial and territorial governments,
and summarized it to provide a cross-country picture of government initiatives.
Key findings that Breaking Barriers Not Bones
brings to light:
- Analysis of the data on current rates of BMD testing across the country
indicate that access is far from adequate – most provinces received a grade of C or lower, despite the
existence of guidelines for identifying those who should be tested. The grades ranged from two B’s
(Alberta, Ontario); one C (British Columbia); six D’s (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories); followed by two failing
grades of F (Saskatchewan, Manitoba).
- An assessment of the availability of osteoporosis medications on
provincial/territorial public drug plans yielded grades that ranged significantly from one A
(Quebec); two B’s (Ontario and Yukon); six C’s (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador); a C minus (British Columbia); to a failing
grade of F (Prince Edward Island).
According to Dr. Famida Jiwa, Vice President, and Chair, Report Card
Committee, Osteoporosis Canada, this kind of research is significant because it confirms for the first time
where major gaps exist across the country in accessing BMD testing and the various treatment options that
could help to prevent future fractures. She points out that the report will also act as a valuable tool
in terms of providing a benchmark to measure future progress.
“Osteoporosis has a profound impact on an individual’s quality of life
and a tremendous financial burden on Canada’s health care system,” says Dr. Jiwa. “The report makes it
clear that Canadians in some parts of the country have poorer access to diagnosis and treatment than in
others, and that’s unacceptable. Ensuring that Canadians with osteoporosis have access to adequate care
regardless of where they live must be a priority.”
Osteoporosis is a chronic disease whose incidence will continue to rise as the proportion of older adults in
our population increases. Appropriate intervention means that the disability and health costs
associated with the disease can be better managed, and the quality of life for the estimated 2 million
Canadians living with osteoporosis improved.
“Reducing fractures through risk reduction, early diagnosis and
appropriate treatment of patients should be the goal of our health care system in addressing osteoporosis
care,” says Julie Foley, President and CEO, Osteoporosis Canada. “With early diagnosis, individuals can
manage their osteoporosis and significantly reduce their fracture risk through treatment and life style
changes. These include regular exercise, adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium. Dairy products such
as milk, cheese and yogurt contain excellent sources of calcium and are easily absorbed by the
body.”
Dr. Diane Thériault, Medical Director, DOME Program, Dartmouth General
Hospital and National Board Chair, Osteoporosis Canada, believes Breaking Barriers, Not
Bones will help to raise awareness about how critical it is that all Canadians have access to
BMD testing and effective treatment. “Osteoporosis is a silent disease. For most people, a BMD test is the
only way to make a diagnosis of osteoporosis. In addition, a BMD measurement helps to determine a person’s
risk of fracture,” she explains. “Without a BMD test, people who need treatment will be overlooked or missed,
and some people will be treated who don’t need it. For those at high risk, there are effective medications
that can significantly reduce their risk of a debilitating fracture. It is therefore important that such
medications be covered under provincial drug insurance plans.”
Breaking Barriers, Not Bones presents a number of recommendations to improve the outcomes for those living with
osteoporosis and to reduce its impact on the health care system.
- The federal and provincial/territorial governments must work
collaboratively to create a national strategy, supported by parallel provincial/territorial strategies that
provide coordinated osteoporosis care.
- These strategies should ensure that current and future initiatives in
risk reduction, diagnosis and treatment are: coordinated, evidence-based, comprehensive, appropriately
resourced within the publicly funded system. The ultimate goal is to reduce debilitating fractures and
their impact on individual lives and on the health care system.
- Osteoporosis Canada is offering to work in partnership with the federal
and provincial/territorial governments to develop and implement comprehensive and integrated
strategies.
“We call on the federal and provincial/territorial governments to meet
with us without delay so we can begin the process of improving the bone health of all Canadians,” says Julie
Foley.
Established in 1982, Osteoporosis Canada (OC) was the first national
organization for osteoporosis in the world and is the only national charitable organization serving Canadians
who have, or are at risk of, osteoporosis. Its vision is a Canada without osteoporotic
fractures.
The Report Card was made possible through unrestricted grants from
AMGEN Canada Inc.; Dairy Farmers of Canada; Eli Lilly Canada Inc.; Merck Frosst Canada Ltd.; Novartis
Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.; and The Alliance for Better Bone Health (Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals
Inc. and sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.).
For further information, to obtain a copy of the
Report Card, or to arrange an interview with an Osteoporosis Canada spokesperson, please
contact:
Ellen Woodger at 416-483-2358 (ellen.woodger@sympatico.ca)
Read the 2008 Report Card
Background Information
CTV's Dr. Marla Shapiro on the National Report Card
View the Canada AM interview with Julie Foley, President & CEO
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