Australian government supports CAM reform

In March 2005 the Australian government issued a response backing a report carried out 18 months earlier by the Expert Committee on Complementary Medicines in the Health System. The ultimate aim of the report is to enhance the public’s confidence in the Australian CAM sector. Some key aspects of the report are:

• the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will ensure that quality standards for all ingredients for use in CAM are legally enforceable;
• companies’ evidence to substantiate claims will be subject to much more rigorous assessment;
• the TGA is to take steps to encourage innovation and research in complementary medicines;
• a database will be established to identify researchers and centres of excellence to facilitate CM research in Australia and
• homoeopathic medicines and related remedies making therapeutic claims will be regulated to ensure they meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy.

http://www.health.gov.au, accessed 23 May 2005