Australia’s medical device regulator, has today announced that it is proposing to take
strong and decisive action to suspend or cancel and recall certain textured breast implants
from the Australian Market, following a review of apparent links to rare forms of cancer.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) proposed regulatory action follows an
extensive review of an apparent association of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large
Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and some textured breast implants.
The Morrison Government supports the actions of the TGA and recognises its authority
and integrity as a regulator of medicines and medical devices.
Expert opinions estimate that the risk of breast implant associated lymphoma is rare at
between 1-in-1,000 and 1-in-10,000.
Experts do not recommend removal of breast implants where there are no problems with
the implant.
Breast implant associated lymphoma is usually cured if detected early.
If you have concerns about your breast implants, see your general practitioner and seek
review by your surgeon.
To monitor outcomes for patients with breast implants, the Government established the
Australian Breast Device Registry and provides funding through Medicare for the
treatment of complications resulting from breast implants.
The Morrison Government is providing $48.2 million over 2017-18 to 2022-23 to the
McGrath Foundation for breast cancer nurses. This includes increasing the number of
Commonwealth-funded McGrath Breast Care Nurses from 57 to 98 by 2022-23.
In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government invested $32.6 million over four years to list
additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET)
items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule for the detection and evaluation of breast cancer.
It is expected that this will support around 14,000 patients each year.
The Morrison Government supports access to quality, safe and effective health care and
actions from regulators that are in the interest of public health and safety.
The TGA has published information on the proposed regulatory action, including
information on the specific textured implants, on the TGA breast implant hub.
