Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15309

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

CHC - it ain’t broke
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 Mar 23
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

THE Complementary Healthcare Council says it believes that concerns about regulation of advertising for complementary medicines “can be addressed within the current framework.”

The CHC was responding to a call for reform by Dr Ken Harvey (PD Thu), with executive director
Wendy Morrow telling PD yesterday that current intentions to review the advertising process “are not new recommendations.

“Government, industry and other stakeholders have been actively involved in developing and implementing appropriate legislative amendments over a number of years through a well accepted and transparent public consultation process,” she said.

Morrow confirmed the CHC was working on a position paper for government agencies to consider relating to the complaints process.

She also said that evaluation of evidence in support of complementary products “must continue to be the responsibility of the TGA” – rather than through a privately run company.

Morrow also said the CHC does support the recommendation that “more should be done to increase
medical practitioner and consumer undertanding of Australia’s strong and reputable regulatory system
(including advertising processes) for medicines; particularly complementary medicines.”