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Free Prescriptions in England |
From: Martin Rathfelder of The Socialist Health Association
All prescriptions are free in Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland will abolish prescription charges soon. Cancer patients from April 1st, people under 19 and over 60 and those suffering from a list of illnesses which probably seemed sensible in 1968 don't have to pay. But there is plenty of evidence that many poor people do not take medication, or sometimes take medical advice, because of cost. The system we are left with in England is a dog's dinner. Gordon Brown is the first politician to make improvements to it for the last 40 years.
Professor Ian Gilmore is leading a review of Prescription Charges with a view to extending free prescriptions to more people with long term conditions. www.dh.gov.uk/prescriptionchargesreview
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Nominations for Regional Co-ordinators 2009 |
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At a Group Leaders’ Meeting on January 27th 2001, the first Regional Co-ordinators were established to enable local groups to work together in a regional setting, sharing ideas and supporting each other.Initially appointed from volunteers, who agreed to start the ball rolling, three years later local support groups nominated their own candidates for these positions, with the intention of holding elections in another 3 years.
The regional co-ordinators for Kent and SE2 (Berks, Bucks, Hants, Isle of Wight and Oxon ) have recently resigned and we need to fill these posts outside of our usual election timetable. If you, or someone in your Group, would like to be considered for this role, then please complete the Nomination Form below and return to the FMA UK office by February 16th 2009.
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Regional Co-ordinators Resignations |
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Sue Tait, Regional Co-ordinator for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight, has resigned for personal reasons. FMA UK would like to say how sorry we are to lose such a dedicated, proactive and helpful volunteer but we fully understand Sue’s reasons.
In 1994 Sue co-founded the Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group and her enthusiasm and drive were infectious. In 1999 Sue co-organised the national FMA UK annual raffle. This was a great success and Sue continued in this role for several years but expanded to include fundraising and funding applications. Sue’s input to FMA UK resulted in her being offered the role of trustee. Sue held this position for many years before resigning and eventually taking on the role of RC. In addition to all these roles, Sue was also a very valued member of the FMA UK national helpline. As you can see, there is very little that Sue didn’t do for FMA UK and she will be sadly missed.
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February FaMily Magazine snippets |
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How did you develop fibromyalgia? Was it due to a physical trauma or an infection? Although everyone with fibromyalgia has their own individual story about what first triggered their symptoms, common factors are emerging. This month we take a look at the five most common triggers and discuss why they can instigate fibromyalgia.
Frustration with medical professionals is all too frequent among people with fibromyalgia. Tamara Liller takes a look at the possible reasons behind some doctor's attitudes and gives advice on what criteria you need in a good fibromyalgia doctor.
With best wishes,
Kathy Longley (FMA UK Editor)(Subscribe to FaMily Magazine to get more of these articles)
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European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA) Press release. |
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28.01.2009
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) are to have a consultation with a delegation from the European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA) in an attempt to understand the need for medical treatments for fibromyalgia in Europe.
Brussels – Following an invitation by the EMEA, the European Network of Fibromyalgia Associations (ENFA) has agreed to attend a consultation meeting with EMEA, where ENFA representatives will share their knowledge and experiences related to the disease of Fibromyalgia that some 14 million Europeans are suffering from. One of the biggest challenges that the patients have been facing is the lack of officially recognized medical treatment options in the European Union whereas there are three drugs in the United States of America approved by the Food and Drug Administration: Cymbalta from Eli Lilly, Lyrica from Pfizer and recently authorised Savella from Forest & Cypress.
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Fibromyalgia: Understanding a Mysterious Ailment |
 An article has come out from Johns Hopkins, one of America’s top research Universities, a world leader in research and education. Fibromyalgia: Understanding a Mysterious Ailment states that doctors now understand "that FM involves the central nervous system" and is, not a psychological condition.
It says that FM is often described as a disease of exclusion: “because several conditions with comparable symptoms must be ruled out before fibromyalgia can be diagnosed. These include: underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); polymyalgia rheumatica; lyme disease; lupus.”
There is mention that Lyrica is now being used as a treatment in the US, having been approved for fibromyalgia by the FDA in June 2007 and makes a point that anti-inflammatory "drugs probably won’t help, since fibromyalgia pain isn’t caused by inflammation."
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FDA Approval of Savella for the Management of Fibromyalgia |
 On January 14th the Forest and Cypress have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved Savella (also known as milnacipran) for the management of fibromyalgia. From the press release:
"The safety and efficacy of
Savella was established in two US pivotal phase III clinical trials
involving over 2,000 patients with fibromyalgia. The studies showed
that Savella doses of 100 mg/day and 200 mg/day demonstrated
statistically significant and clinically meaningful concurrent
improvements in pain, patient global assessment, and physical function.
The companies expect Savella to be available in (U.S.) pharmacies by March
2009."
Dr. Daniel Clauw, Professor of Anesthesiology and Medicine (Rheumatology) at the University of Michigan. said "Fibromyalgia is a
complicated chronic pain condition, so it is important that physicians
and patients have access to treatments that have been shown to help
manage the symptoms that define the experience of fibromyalgia. The introduction of Savella
is important because it is the first drug approved to treat the
symptoms of fibromyalgia using a composite responder analysis."
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