Malaria drugs study option
THE Department of Veterans’ Affairs has revealed it is considering options for additional research into the potentially adverse health effects of controversial anti- malarial drugs.
The move comes as the Repatriation Medical Authority this week ruled there was insufficient evidence that exposure to mefloquine, tafenoquine or primaquine causes chronic brain injury.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said the Federal Government had no influence over the determination of the Statement of Principles by the authority or the investigations undertaken by the body.
“The Repatriation Medical Authority is an independent statutory authority and its role is to determine Statements of Principles for any disease, injury or death that could be related to military service, based on sound medical- scientific evidence,” he said.
“Interested parties can request the Specialist Medical Review Council to review the decision of the RMA.”
Despite the authority’s finding, Mr Tehan said the Department of Veterans’ Affairs was “considering options for additional research”.
But the department was yesterday unable to provide any further detail on the timeline, cost or details of what the research would entail.
“Veterans’ Affairs will continue to make mefloquine- related claims a high priority by allocating these to the specialist team,” Mr Tehan said.
Mefloquine has been banned for use by soldiers in Germany and the US Army Special Operations Command.
It is also a drug of last resort in Australia, the US, UK and most recently Canada.
Tafenoquine, which has been trialled on Defence personnel, is yet to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The two drugs and primaquine were given to Australian soldiers in a number of trials between 1999 and 2002.
The medications have been the subject of claims from veterans that they are linked to acquired brain injuries and chronic mental illness.
Since September 2016, 23 mefloquine- related claims have been received by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said she was committed to continue working with the veterans in relation to the mefloquine issue.
“The important question is ‘ was there evidence to disprove a link between mefloquine and brain injury’. This crucial question needs to be answered,” Ms O’Toole said.
Support is available through the expanded non- liability health care program to include all mental health conditions including such conditions as adjustment disorders, acute stress disorder, phobias, panic disorder, agoraphobia and bipolar and related disorders.
Support is also available through the Veteran and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service on 1800 011 046, which provides free and confidential nationwide counselling and support for eligible current and former serving members of the ADF and families 24/ 7.