IOF National White Papers
Increasingly, IOF national member societies see the need to lobby health officials to make osteoporosis a priority health issue. In order to convince sceptical and/or financially-challenged health officials that osteoporosis is important, IOF members have found that a comprehensive economic analysis is an essential tool. While some global or regional data are available, it is of greater impact to provide relevant national information. These may come from government or private databases, scientific publications, IOF data, and/or other local sources.
In order to assist its member societies, IOF has provided a template for creating a national "white paper" of economic and epidemiological impact of osteoporosis. The advantage of a standard template is that each IOF society can compare their own data against those of neighbouring countries, and see what the relative strengths and weaknesses are.
IOF invites member national societies to download the template in the IOF Members Only section of this website.
Two examples of national osteoporosis "white papers" that met with great success are those from Australia and Canada.
The Australian white paper is entitled "The Burden of Brittle Bones: Costing Osteoporosis in Australia". This landmark document commissioned by Osteoporosis Australia and published in 2001, provided new statistics for the burden and costs of disease in Australia that have proved to be of enormous help in lobbying efforts. Download Australian white paper (PDF, 298 KB) here. Osteoporosis Australia has recently completed an update of the above White Paper and this document will be available on the IOF website shortly.
The Canadian white paper is entitled "Osteoporosis: Preventing a Fractured Future©. A Summary Policy Statement by the Osteoporosis Society of Canada, 2004". (© Osteoporosis Society of Canada). Using data from the Society's own evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, together with evidence of a gap of care for osteoporosis in Canada, the policy document recommended priorities for Government action. One successful outcome was that in 2005, a far-reaching osteoporosis strategy was announced in the province of Ontario, supported by an ongoing financial investment by the provincial Government. Download Canadian white paper (PDF, 276.5 KB) here.
Another publication that may be a useful references for member societies who are considering producing a national white paper is the IOF report entitled "Osteoporosis in the Workplace: The Social, Economic and Human Costs of Osteoporosis on Employees, Employers and Governments.". This report can be downloaded here: Workplace report.
National white papers are currently being developed by IOF member societies in Brazil, the Philippines and Indonesia. The estimated completion date for these reports is February 2008. White Paper Reports currently available include:
Australia (PDF, 298 KB)
Canada (PDF, 276.5 KB)
New Zealand (PDF, 1009.8 KB)
