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.
In September 2009, IOF published the 'Asian Audit'. This landmark report is the first to compile information on epidemiology, burden and costs in individual countries, as well as collectively across Asia. Download report.
White Paper Reports that are currently available include those from Australia, Canada and New Zealand:
Australia
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 is available here: 2008 Update to Australian White Paper (PDF, 1.99 MB)
Canada
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.
New Zealand
A White Paper report, "The Burden of Osteoporosis in New Zealand: 2007-2020" was commissioned by Osteoporosis New Zealand. The report estimates that a fracture occurs in New Zealand every 6 minutes, and if nothing is done, this will increase to 120,000 people with fractures by 2020, with a fracture every 41/2 minutes. The report estimated the direct cost of treating fractures to be over $300 million per annum.
New Zealand (PDF, 1009.8 KB)
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.
