HRT under review by drug agency

By DITA DE BONI

Pharmac has been spurred by "international concern" into reviewing women's access to combined Hormone Replacement Therapy, but denies being slow off the mark.

Yesterday, the Government drug-buying agency said it had set up an expert group to review why and how HRT is used by around 100,000 New Zealand women. It said the review followed concerns raised overseas in July.

Those concerns emerged from a study of 16,608 postmenopausal American women who took combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT and developed an increased risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease and strokes.

But Pharmac medical director Dr Peter Moodie said that although the agency had taken note of overseas studies, the review was one of a number it routinely carried out through the year.

"The aim of the review is not to restrict access to HRT but to look at whether we have the appropriate mix of treatments available," Dr Moodie said.

There were "risks" associated with the use of combined HRT, but they were small.

Although many doctors had already changed the way they prescribed HRT, guidelines on access to it "might also be useful".

But the executive director of the Auckland-based Women's Health Action Group, Sandra Coney, said health authorities had waited too long to act on concerns raised overseas.

"We have known since July 10 that combined HRT use is linked to a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease and blood clots."

The group is holding seminars on HRT use.

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