COPROXAMOL DEBATE ALIVE AND WELL

[News Desk]

by Jeanne Hambleton (c) 2008
NFA Leader Against Pain-Advocate

The coproxamol debate is continuing to gather pace in spite of the
Government.

I am pleased to tell you that MPs Anne Begg and Dr Howard Stoate, who
have been fighting since July 2005 to save this 50-year-old 'safe'
painkiller from extinction, are seeking a Government U turn in the
House of Commons.

It is claimed that 70 per cent of GPs and 90 per cent of
rheumatologist were against the withdrawal and there have been calls
for a special debate for the withdrawal to be reversed. The news comes
from Pulse Today website, owned by GPs and available to GPs (http://
www.pulsetoday.co.uk/).

It is understood a Pulse survey will be used during the proposed
debate expected to be held this week. The debate will bring pressure
on the Government to change the decision to re-classify the licence of
the drug. From January 1st coproxamol became an illegal drug
prescribed at the responsibility of the doctor for named patients
only. This meant GPs and rheumatologists could face litigation from
patients in the event of any problems. It is suggested this may
discourage some GPs from prescribing coproxamol.

It is hoped that Alan Johnson MP, Minister of Health, will see how the
withdrawal has been bungled and coproxamol withdrawn against the
wishes of so many GPs and their patients, that he will initiate a full
review.

Full Story:

http://fmsglobalnews.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/coproxamol-debate-alive-and-well/