All Australians need to read this

[Cindy]

There have been two changes to the PBS scheme which you need to be aware of and to act on.

From the beginning of April a rule was past by the Federal government via the PBS to limit the ability of GP's to prescribe testosterone. Instead they have to refer their clients both cis and trans to specialists Endo's or registered Sex therapy specialists. This is blatant discrimination against all men, women can access HRT through their GP for menopausal symptoms, why can't men for andropausal symptoms?

ANZPATH has been lobbying hard to get this changed but with little success so far.

You need to lobby your Federal and State members to inform them of the consequences of this stupidity, particularly for transmen who seem to have been ignored in the ruling. Emphasise the consequences to your health and mental well being.

Also when Queensland brought in their anti-bikie rules they made it an offence to be in possession of steroids. Testosterone is a steroid, if you are in possession of Testosterone illegally you can face 25 yrs imprisonment in Queensland.

Today I was informed that the PBS has passed a new ruling on hormonal implants. Hormonal implants have to be manufactured within 24 hours of being implanted. This is also ridiculous and unmanageable. This ruling will impose serious health risks in particular to women.

Ms Susan Levy is the Federal Health Minister, write to her and to your local members etc.

ANZPATH is also lobbying for this to be changed but so far we are being ignored.

Also lobby Tim Wilson, the Human Rights Commissioner, he is very trans* friendly and is supporting us in this.

Cindy
Forum Admin
and
Executive Secretary ANZPATH

[Cindy]

Bump

[Adam (birkin)]

Wow I'm not Australian, but 25 years on prison? That's ridiculous, I bet there's murderers who get lighter sentences.

[enigmaticrorschach]

i'm not australian either but 25 years is just outrageous. 2 degree murder is about 15 years in jail and thats with parole

[Cindy]

That law was passed by the Queensland goverment as a way of controlling bikie gangs. Members of a gang get an extra 15 years! these are maximum not statutory penalties.

Still seem extreme to me.

[Ms Grace]

Politicians like to be seen to be acting tough on things that people and shock jocks and Rupert Murdoch are getting their knockers in a twist about on any given day. They rush through a whole load of rubbish under the pretence of "legislation" and the rest of us suffer as a result.

So when you say

Today I was informed that the PBS has passed a new ruling on hormonal implants. Hormonal implants have to be manufactured within 24 hours of being implanted. This is also ridiculous and unmanageable. This ruling will impose serious health risks in particular to women.

This is essentially the estrogen crystals we have?? If so, WTF? I think it probably has something to do with keeping big pharama happy.

[Cindy]

I'm due for an implant on Monday and I'm running on empty. I'll let you know what happens. It was my Endo who reported this change and she is mightily annoyed as are the Brisbane and Sydney clinics.

As far as I can tell from the ANZPATH list-serv, all implants in Australia are made by compounding chemists and no way can they do a 24 hour turn around.

[Ms Grace]

Glad I got one last Monday. This whole thing seems utterly unbelievable. What was the reson for it I wonder? Haven't heard of any outbreak of dodgy five year old implants.

[Cindy]

The reason given for T was over presciption to cismales, who seemingly are not allowed to have a healthy sex life when their T levels drop in later life. They didn't even think of Tmen.

The reason for implants has not been given, but no doubt money. Presumably Tony Abbots wife hasn't suffered menopause.

The consequences have been devastating. We had a GP n Victoria refer 150 Tmen to a specialist in one day. He cannot see them for months/years.
How many of them will go into mental health care because of the lack of T hasn't been understood.

As for women, our risk of DVT is 1.1% on managed proygnova, zero on implants (Australian figures supplied by my Endo). So the Government is happy to risk me being a victim of stroke? F that.

I'm angry.

So far we have all recieved form letters from the PBS and Susan Levy. No explanation, no acknowledgment of the dangers to T-people.

Actually I'm not angry, I'm furious. So are my fellow ANZPATH members. We are facing our clients self harming or going further and going to the end game just for a few dollars?

Sorry, my anger shows through.

[Ms Grace]

No, I definitely understand your anger. Maybe Kate McGregor needs to have a chat with her "mate" Tony Abbott since he is supposedly so supportive. I wonder if a newspaper will care enough to write something?

[Cindy]

Cate was asked to raise it it her Pres Club talk. She didn't

She is aware of me, sadly many think she is looking after one person.

[Ms Grace]

Presumably with the implants it's only the ones on the PBS that must be no more than 24 hours. If they are then they're not under the PBS which means they can still be used but are more expensive?

[warlockmaker]

In our main newspaper this morning's front page was about sex discrimination and how a lawsuit has been filed against bars that have ladies nigh snd cheaper drinks for females by a male stating it was discrimination and action will be taken much to the chagrin of the bar owners. And this is in a major conservative Asian city.

This is clearly sex discrimination when one gender can get their hormones differently from the other. I'm suprised that there has not been an oposing lawsuit . But I'm not so familiar with the Discrimination laws in Australia. Even in my city people would be up in arms over such blatant discrimination.