Natural Way To Go
Sun Herald
Saturday April 12, 1997
NATURAL remedies and vitamins from ginseng to evening primrose oil will become a recognised part of mainstream medical treatment after the Federal Government reviews health regulations.
The changes, announced by parliamentary secretary for health Senator Chris Ellison, are designed to improve patient access to natural remedies while imposing new standards and quality control.
They reflect the growing popularity of "alternative" medicine. Government surveys show that 57 per cent of Australians now use natural cures and treatment to complement Western medicine.
All new remedies involving herbs, vitamins, minerals and nutritional therapies will be assessed by a government committee for safety and effectiveness before they can be sold.
Herbal medicines also will come under control of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) , which will be able to test them for quality consistency and contamination.
Senator Ellison said the new regulations would ensure patients could have confidence that their medicines would work in the way they were intended.
Nutritional Foods Association executive director Val Johanson said the reforms recognised there was great demand for alternative medicines in Australia.
Ms Johanson said the changes would allow the natural remedies industry to grow by providing mechanisms for approving new ingredients and products. Since the TGA was set up in 1991, no new ingredients had been allowed.
But she said the cost of the changes could mean higher costs for consumers.
The TGA is considering whether all products packaged like pharmaceuticals should fall under its control and be required to meet quality standards, rather than be treated as food.
One product now treated as a food, but which the industry wants reclassified, is royal jelly. This has been blamed for the death of several people who have suffered allergic reactions.
"The industry's first concern is public safety. We're not out to promote or support any product or practice which may raise a health concern," Ms Johanson said.
The association also supports a push by Senator Ellison for better standards and accreditation for the people who prescribe alternative medicine.
© 1997 Sun Herald
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