Osteoporosis Australia
Osteoporosis Australia describes itself as "the premier consumer body in the bone arena." [1]
It states that its mission is "to reduce the incidence of Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in the Australian Community by 15% by the year 2010." [2] On its website it states that its key objectives are:
- Establish Osteoporosis as a major health issue
- Increase awareness of Osteoporosis throughout Australia
- Improve prevention & management strategies
- Increase GP & other health professionals understanding of Osteoporosis
- Act as an effective lobby voice in federal Government
- Fund research in bone metabolism and related issues
Contents
Personnel
Board
- Doctor John Hewson, Chairman
- Naseema Sparks, Acting CEO
- Professor Peter Ebeling, Medical Director
- Michael Coleman, Treasurer
- Professor Rebecca Mason
- Professor Philip Sambrook
- Barbara Holborow OAM
- Ralph Evans
- Heather Zampatti
- Michael Herring
- Helen Cody
Funding
OA provides few details of its funding on its website though it does disclose that:
- the Bones and Joints Schools Kit it produces which is aimed at primary schools is sponsored by Kraft Singles;
- its "Falls and Fracture Kit" which is "designed for retirement villages and other residential care" is sponsored by Aventis Pharma. [3]
In 2003, Professor David Henry of the University of Newcastle questioned their closeness to corporate interests: "they get 70 per cent of their funding from commercial corporations, 25 per cent from other corporate sources – that's a total of 95 per cent of their income, apparently from corporate sources, and only 5 per cent from membership fees".[1]
The Wyeth website says it "currently" (as of 2010) funds OA to the tune of $100,000 per year.[2] Wyeth are the makers of Caltrate, a calcium supplement promoted which they claim "assists in preventing & treating osteoporosis".[3]
As of August 2010, the Supporters page of the OA website has blanked out content as it appears in web browsers. However, the source of the page reveals the names of supporters:
- Major Supporters: Dairy Australia, Amgen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis, P & G Pharmaceuticals, Warner Chilcott, Merck Sharp & Dohme
- General Supporters: Blackmores, Servier, Caltrate, OsteVit-D, Novartis, Ethical Nutrients
- Research Supporters: Macquarie Bank Group, Amgen, Wicking Trust, The Myer Foundation
- Donations in kind: Macquarie Bank Group, Lanier Australia
- Donations from sales: Personal Porter
Other SourceWatch resources
Contact Details
Osteoporosis Australia
Level 1, 52 Parramatta Road
Forest Lodge NSW 2037
G.P.O. Box 121
Sydney NSW 2001
Web:http://www.osteoporosis.org.au/
References
- ↑ Misinformation issued by Osteoporosis Australia, The World Today, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, August 19, 2003
- ↑ Wyeth: Osteoporosis Australia
- ↑ About Caltrate
