A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) revealed that within the last decade alone, the variety of medicines emerging in the market for treatment of arthritis and osteoporosis have expanded significantly especially with the arrival of several new medicines that can reduce disease severity, slow its progression, and in some cases prevent complications.

The report was compiled on the grounds of the findings associated with medication use for arthritis and osteoporosis. It offers information on what medicines Australians are using to manage their musculoskeletal problems, how much these medicines cost, and trends in the prescription of new medicines.

Methotrexate was speculated to cost consumers $1.1 million and the Australian Government $2.5 million in 2007, with even more than 100,000 subsidized prescriptions dispensed.

Above 1.6 million subsidized prescriptions for meloxicam, a drug for treating osteoarthritis, were dispensed in 2007, charging consumers $7.4 million, while, the Australian Government $36.9 million.

"Pharmaceutical innovations over the last several years have improved the efficacy and diversity of medicines available to manage these conditions. However the adoption of new and more effective drugs is often costly", quoted Dr. Kuldeep Bhatia of the AIHW's National Centre for Monitoring Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions.