Pharmacy Daily | Inquiry good use of funds?

COMPLEMENTARY Medicines Australia ceo Carl Gibson has asked if the Healthcare Complaints Commission’s inquiry into the promotion of false or misleading health-related information or practices is a good use of taxpayers’ money. The Inquiry was announced in November, due to concerns about possible lack of oversight of publication of purportedly medical information that was contrary to medical practice and could be harmful, chair Leslie Williams said. It was not focused on alternative health remedies taken as part of supplementary health care. Gibson said in 2012-13, the Commission received 10 complaints about unregistered health practitioners providing incorrect or misleading information, out of 4,554 complaints, and 114 related to unregistered health practitioners. There was already sufficient legislation in NSW to address the dissemination of misleading information, he said. CMA supported the push for an independent National Registration and Accreditation scheme for naturopaths, herbalists and nutritionists, and any further Inquiry before implementation of this seemed excessive, he said. Friends of Science vice president Professor Alastair McLennan said there was not enough regulation in the industry and what there was, was often self regulated. The Australian public was very unprotected from inappropriate care, and the country had “almost no teeth” when it came to regulatory boards, which the Inquiry ought to have, he said.

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