Osteoporosis Australia

Osteoporosis Australia describes itself as "the premier consumer body in the bone arena." 

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." 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

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.

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".

The Wyeth website says it "currently" (as of 2010) funds OA to the tune of $100,000 per year. Wyeth are the makers of Caltrate, a calcium supplement promoted which they claim "assists in preventing & treating osteoporosis".

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

 * Patient Groups/Australia

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/