A proposed new TGA list of permitted indications for complementary medicines has been blasted as "bizarre" and "not supported by scientific evidence" in a major Fairfax report today.
The indications are part of the Therapeutic Goods Amendment bill, with the front page Sydney Morning Herald story today accompanied by an opinion piece from health activist Ken Harvey.
Health claims highlighted include "tonifies kidney essence" and "opens body orifices," with almost all of the particularly offending claims related to Chinese traditional medicine usages.
Critics say the extensive list, with more than 1,000 indications, is "misleading, potentially harmful and based on pseudoscience," the report states, citing TGA Advertising Complaints Resolution Panel chair Allan Asher as saying "The TGA held industry consultations and lost the plot; it gave them a licence to deceive".
If the legislation is passed complementary medicine sponsors will only be able to draw from the list of permitted indications when registering and labelling products.
The report also quotes RACGP president Dr Bastian Seidel saying the TGA "should not endorse wannabe indications that are not based on science, logic or common sense...its role is to protect the public from made-up claims".
Consumer group CHOICE is calling for mandatory disclaimers saying the claims are "not accepted by most modern medical experts".
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