15 June 2016
Media Release

Surgical Mesh Registry needed immediately

Medsafe's refusal to establish a registry of problems arising from the use of surgical mesh raises serious questions over Medsafe's role in the health sector, according to Democrats for Social Credit Party (DSC) health spokesman David Tranter.

This follows the parliamentary health select committee's recommendation that a national register be introduced to track the use of surgical mesh devices which are being banned in some countries as their use continues to cause chronic pain and the destruction of people's lives as tellingly described by Mesh Down Under spokeswoman Charlotte Korte in a recent Radio NZ interview.

Mrs. Kortes pointing out that despite the devices being known to frequently break down, doctors are putting them into patients when they can't remove them, is a devastating indictment of their continued use Mr. Tranter said.

In the same Radio NZ programme Wakefield Hospital gynaecologist Dr. Hanifa Koya stated in support of a registry: ”A lot of harm has been done, and we need to accept that a lot of harm has been done". She further commented that adverse events are not being reported by doctors, and that compared to the work of Mesh Down Under's Charlotte Korte and Carmel Berry "Very little work has been done by Medsafe”.

Medsafe's claims that a registry would be "expensive" and could cause "unnecessary worry" are utterly absurd. To quibble about the cost when so much suffering is involved - and when there are registries for other procedures - is utterly callous and unacceptable in a civilised health system.

As for causing "unnecessary worry", it appears that Medsafe have no comprehension of the dreadful effects both mental and physical when surgical mesh procedures have such devastating effects on patients’ lives.

The registry recommended by the health select committee should be implemented without delay regardless of Medsafe's opposition. The DSC calls on politicians of all parties to demand this happens, Mr. Tranter concluded.

ENDS

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