Transvaginal mesh catastrophe further highlights case for consumer empowerment when it comes to medical care and treatment

"The 'eight-minute' cure: how transvaginal mesh sentenced thousands of women to a life of pain"

Today's #GoodWeekend feature highlights alarming instances of regulatory failure and why addressing #transparency and #accountability of the health system is of fundamental importance.

It is imperative that Government obtain and publish performance and pricing data of individual surgeons and hospitals through an easy to understand online platform for #consumers and their #GPs.

"...as a specialist doctor, I currently have virtually no regulations governing my working hours, alcohol intake, fee structures. Contrast that to other professionals who are responsible for people's lives." Pilots, train drivers, even forklift operators are subject to shift limits and blood alcohol tests; senior doctors, in particular, have no such requirements." (Sydney Morning Herald 15/6/2019)

The issue of Transvaginal Mesh was raised by Members Health (then hirmaa) at a Senate hearing back in 2017 where we advocated on behalf of the more than 2 million lives our health funds help care for.

Like many GPs, not for profit, member owned and community based health funds often enjoy a close and life long relationship with families. The Members Health funds have a very long and proud history and only want their members to get the best possible care throughout their lives.

During the Johnson & Johnson class action in Sydney, one of the company's advertising concepts for transvaginal mesh products was tendered to the court. It was an ad aimed at doctors, and in it, two surgeons boast about their successful mesh practices. "Just got back from a week in St. Moritz," says one. "Fabulous ski conditions, beautiful resort." He's just picked up his new Lamborghini. But now he's got to rush – he's got to squeeze more mesh patients into his schedule. "You know I can do a TVT-O [an incontinence mesh procedure] in eight minutes." (Sydney Morning Herald 15/6/2019)

The health insurance industry is doing what it can to help inform and empower consumers by supporting online platforms such as Healthshare and Whitecoat :

We strongly encourage making that phone call and contacting your health fund before making a booking with any medical specialist.

While the Members Health funds all share one or more of the following characteristics, being not for profit, member owned or community based - that is often not the case elsewhere in the health system.

We know that the medically implanted device industry is profit driven, charging Australian consumers of the private health system many times more for the same devices used in the public system. Unfortunately the horror stories we are reading about Transvaginal Mesh have also been experienced elsewhere in the past. The Netflix documentary, Bleeding Edge provides an eye-opening look at the fast-growing medical device industry reveals how the rush to innovate can lead to devastating consequences for patients:

The recent breakdown of medical device prices in the public health system versus the private health system suggests massive profits are being generated off the back of unsuspecting Australian consumers: