New Zealand bans mesh ops
NEW Zealand has become the first country in the world to ban all vaginal mesh procedures, it has been revealed.
The country’s Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) declared it would remove from supply and limit the use of surgical mesh products.
Its Ministry for Health spokesman, Dr Stewart Jessamine, said the risks of mesh far outweighed the benefits for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. But surgical mesh will still be available for other conditions, such as hernias, which have also courted controversy.
Thousands of women across the UK have experienced complications from the polypropylene plastic meshes such as severe abdominal and vaginal pain, infections and even perforated organs. It has been described as “the biggest health scandal since Thalidomide”.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Surgical Mesh Implants, chaired by Pontypridd MP Owen Smith, wants a full investigation in the use of mesh in the UK and has called for the device to be suspended.
Mr Smith said: “This is a hugely significant step forward in the campaign against mesh. New Zealand is the first country to declare that the risks for women of all pelvic operations using mesh far outweigh the benefits and have acted on that conclusion with a ban on mesh from next year.
“That is precisely what we have been calling for here in the UK and we now need our ministers, regulatory authorities, and medical professions to show similar leadership and ban mesh in the UK.”
From January 4, doctors in New Zealand will not be able to use mesh to treat prolapse or stress related incontinence in women.
Mr Smith added: “It will prevent future generations from suffering as many thousands have done here in Britain. Women in the UK need to see similar protections put in place to prevent any more being injured by mesh.”
Kath Sansom, founder of campaign group Sling the Mesh, said: “We are thrilled that New Zealand is leading the way in stopping the devastation caused to women by pelvic mesh implants.”