Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15321

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

CH reform vital - Harvey
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 Mar 24
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

DR Ken Harvey has responded to the Complementary Healthcare Council’s assertions about ongoing
complementary medicine regulation reform (PD yesterday), saying that despite the process, “promotion by Australian sponsors of complementary medicines regularly breaches the
Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code with impunity.”

Harvey said that the “process” started in 2003 and was aborted in 2007 with the abandonment of
the proposed Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority (PD 17 Jul 2007).

He said that although the govt is now introducing some of the reforms agreed to by the ANZTPA
process, “advertising is not yet on the agenda.”

Harvey also said that the TGA doesn’t routinely evaluate evidence to support the claims made by sponsors of complementary medicines, “and hence the suggestion by CHOICE and others for an opt-in,
independent evaluation system.”

He said that it’s his understanding that such a concept was first raised in 2003 by the Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health System.

“Six years later, with no action from the TGA, some people are proposing to get on with the job!”
he concluded.