FRIENDS of Science in Medicine (FSM) has endorsed a submission by medical activist Ken Harvey about the TGA's plans to implement the new Advertising Complaints Handling System, saying the proposals "leave a lot to be desired".
According to Harvey, the proposed TGA complaint system will be much less transparent and accountable than the current Complaint Resolution Panel, which is no longer accepting complaints.
He has criticised the fact that the TGA will not provide complainants with the priority level their complaint is assigned to, and that the agency "will not provide public determinations on whether Code breaches alleged by the complainant were upheld or not".
Harvey also says the TGA will not routinely evaluate or publicise whether the regulatory action taken achieves compliance.
"Publishing determinations on all complaints received, including whether compliance was achieved by the regulatory measures undertaken, educates complainants, advertisers and the industry; it is also crucial for monitoring the performance of the regulator," Harvey said.
He said there was "considerable cynicism...about the TGA's ability (and will) to provide an efficient and transparent complaint system".
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