Fracture Liaison Services in an Open System: How was it Done? What Were the Barriers and How Were They Overcome?

A fragility fracture signals the potential for the occurrence of a subsequent fracture, and it often represents the first opportunity for care of osteoporosis. It is now well accepted knowledge that fracture liaison services can close or, at the very least, narrow the care gap that exists in the management of these sentinel events in patients with osteoporosis. The challenge, however, lies in translating this knowledge into practice and to implement these programs in health care systems with varied infrastructure and delivery practices operating in varied geographical environments. A review of a functioning model of care in an open health system in an Asian country and a short account of the problems encountered and the lessons learned during the course of its implementation are provided.