The Republic has failed to implement the majority of EU recommendations for the prevention of osteoporosis, according to a report published yesterday.
Osteoporosis, a disease involving the progressive thinning of bones which leads to increased fractures, was described as a growing epidemic by Mr Daniel Navid, chief executive of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, at the launch of the report by the European Union Osteoporosis Consultation Panel. "Osteoporosis in the European Community: Action Plan" sets out the key steps required to tackle the problem of avoidable fractures across the EU.
Ireland has failed to ensure proper access to the main screening procedure for the disease, according to the report. And the State has yet to act on the recommendation that patients be reimbursed for treatments that specifically prevent osteoporosis.
In response to the question "is osteoporosis a Government health priority?" the analysis found that this had yet to happen. However, the Government was praised for providing funding to the Irish Osteoporosis Society to employ a national co-ordinator to facilitate the implementation of the European Commission's eight recommendations on osteoporosis prevention.
According to Dr Juliet Compston, chair of the EU Osteoporosis Consultation Panel, "there are three key steps, that, with support from the EU, must be implemented in member and accession states: a) the development of evidence-based prevention guidelines; b) appropriate access to and reimbursement of diagnostic tests and treatments; c) co-ordinated collection of fracture data for inclusion in the EU health information system (EUHIS) so that we can evaluate preventive strategies and plan the allocation of future resources."
However, Dr Compston said the action plan reveals that early detection is not seen as a healthcare priority by European governments. "While osteoporosis is one of the worst chronic diseases in Europe, most people have no idea of their personal risk status," she added.
Welcoming the publication of the action plan, Mr David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Health, said it was time to end the silent suffering of those with osteoporosis. However, he stopped short of committing the EU to additional initiatives in the area.