Connected Care Blog | Dr Irwin Lim | Arthritis Care

A Current Affair's Arthritis Exclusive

Written by Dr Irwin Lim | 26-Oct-2015 21:56:26

Any press is good press.

I think this is true for arthritis awareness.

We are so starved of media attention, that it’s a remarkable event when arthritis makes prime time.

In the last 2 weeks, I think I’ve had 10 patients come in to ask about the medication highlighted in this A Current Affair piece, Xeljanz.

It’s been approved on our pharmaceutical benefits scheme, meaning that it is now available to those patients who qualify at a very much subsidised price.

While the story is reasonably sensationalist, and it does generate work in trying to explain to patients who do not have rheumatoid arthritis or those who do not meet qualification criteria why it’s not the medication for them, it at least starts a conversation.

What are your thoughts about this sort of media coverage?