Veterans living in QLD/Anti-Malarial Medications Health Assessment Program

VETERANS LIVING IN QLD

ANTI-MALARIAL MEDICATIONS HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROGRAM

• The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has engaged Bupa Australia to deliver a national program of health assessments for veterans who are concerned about the anti-malarial medications MEFLOQUINE (trade name Lariam®) or TAFENOQUINE (trade names Kozenis® and Kodatef®).
• The Program is open to any veteran who has concerns having taken these anti-malarial medications and offers a single comprehensive health assessment to investigate any reported symptoms. Interested veterans can access the program at no cost.

• Assessments will be conducted by a Program General Practitioner (GP) who has received training in anti-malarial medication and has an understanding of the mental and physical health issues of veterans concerned about these medications.

• At the conclusion of the assessment, the participating veteran will receive a customised Health Support Recommendations Plan that will provide a basis for further investigation and/or treatment, as required. The GP conducting the assessment may provide referrals for follow-up treatments to be coordinated through the veteran’s regular GP.

• There are currently nine GPs recruited to the program. The largest number of these are in Queensland with two in Brisbane (West End and Everton Park), one in Ipswich and Townsville. A GP in Cairns has also signed a provider agreement with Bupa although they have not yet been inducted into the program. Elsewhere in Australia there are GPs in Adelaide, Sydney (East Hills), Fremantle and Jerrabomberra (ACT region).

• Bupa are working to expand the geographic coverage of the program and are in discussions with the Tristar Medical Group to access their network to place GPs in Darwin, Mission Beach and regional Victoria.

• Go to www.dva.gov.au and search for “Mefloquine” for more details.
  Veterans can also register interest for a health assessment by calling the 1800 MEFLOQUINE (1800 633 567) hotline, Monday to Friday during business hours. Alternatively, veterans may call Bupa directly on 1800 692 798 to book this health assessment. A copy of the program flyer is available for distribution amongst your community. Hard copies are also available to anyone that is interested.

• If you have any questions about the program or to request copies of the flyer, please send an email to: [email protected] and the DVA program manager will respond.

Thanks,

Tara Hatzismalis

Assistant Secretary Processing and DHOAS

Deputy Commissioner QLD

Department of Veterans’ Affairs