THOUSANDS of Australian women whose lives have been ruined by vaginal mesh implants have received an apology from the federal government.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday acknowledged the pain and suffering of those caught up in what turned out to be a global medical scandal.
"On behalf of the Australian government, I say sorry to all of those women with the historic agony and pain that has come from mesh implantation which have led to horrific outcomes," he told the ABC on Wednesday.
"My message to them is your voice has been heard, and not just heard but acted upon."
Vaginal mesh implants have been given to about 8000 Australian women since the 1990s to treat pelvic floor damage.
Many were treated for stress incontinence and prolapse, often after giving birth, resulting in chronic and debilitating pain and the inability to have sex.
The federal government has now tabled its response to a Senate inquiry, which heard horror stories from women who had the implants.
It supports, or supports in principle, 12 out of 13 committee recommendations which included mandatory reporting of adverse effects on women, more information about the risks of implants and better training for doctors and surgeons.
The government's central response is to work with the states and territories to set up a voluntary national register of mesh recipients recording the issues they experienced.
"I would like to see it set up by the end of 2019, if not the middle of the year," Mr Hunt said.
Patient lobby groups want to make it compulsory for health practitioners to report side-effects of implantable devices.
While the federal government supports this, it cannot act because it would be outside its powers.
"We will encourage the states and territories to adopt mandatory standards," Mr Hunt said.
But mesh victim Gai Thompson wants more from the government.
"It's fine for the health minister to say he is sorry but even the health minister says tracking the pain 'is out of his jurisdiction'...well how are you helping these women then?" Ms Thompson said.
"The bottom line is pharmaceutical companies are earning millions out of it. I want to know if the health minister would allow his mother, daughter or wife to have this surgery.
"If the answer is no? Why is the product still on the market?"
Ms Thompson is one of 1300 women currently involved in a class action conducted by Shine lawyers against mesh companies.
The federal government has also established Medicare benefit payments for the removal of pelvic mesh implants and related treatments.
Medicare items have also been changed to restrict the use of the mesh in surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse.
The states and territories are being asked to conduct an audit of the devices.
Australian Associated Press
