ANTA response to newspaper article regarding Complementary & Alternative Medicine

It was reported in a newspaper recently that a group of medical researchers and scientists are lobbying universities to close down alternative medicine degrees and the group believes health funds should not pay rebates on alternative medicine for failing to champion evidence based science and medicine.

It would appear from the report in the newspaper the group of medical researchers have not undertaken research into the Complementary & Alternative Medicine courses provided by universities which meet or exceed the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmarks for training in Traditional Medicine/Complementary & Alternative Medicine. WHO has stated in the training benchmark “The appropriate use of Traditional Medicine/Complementary & Alternative Medicine can help protect and improve citizens’ health and well-being”.

The WHO also stated:

“One of the four main objectives of the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002-2005 was to support countries to integrate traditional medicine into their own health systems”

“the 2009 WHO resolution (WHA62.13) on traditional medicine further urged Member States to consider where appropriate inclusion of traditional in their national health systems”

On the 1st July 2010, the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act commenced to establish the National Accreditation Registration Scheme (NRAS) to regulate health professions in Australia

The NRAS includes: Chiropractors, Dental Profession, Medical Practitioners, Nurses and Midwives, Optometrists, Osteopaths, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists and Psychologists. From the 1st July 2012 the following health services will be incorporated into the NRAS which also include Complementary & Alternative health professions:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice
• Chinese Medicine (Acupuncturist &Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioners)
• Medical Radiation practice (diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy)
• Occupational Therapy

The report in the newspaper stated: “in Britain from this year it will no longer be possible to receive a degree from publicly-funded university in areas of alternative health”

Our research confirms there are herbal medicine degrees currently available at publicly-funded universities in Britain.

It appears the group of medical researchers and scientists are unaware of the alternative degree courses currently available in Britain, the WHO position on Traditional Medicine/ Complementary & Alternative Medicine and the Australian Governments inclusion of Traditional Medicine/Complementary & Alternative Medicine in the NRAS and the national health system.

It also appears the group of medical researchers have overlooked $4 million in funding provided by the Federal Government, $600,000 provided by the NSW Office of Science & Medical Research, followed up by a further funding of $5 million as a special initiative research grant by the National Health & Medical Research Council for Complementary & Alternative Medicine research in Australia as well as millions of dollars invested in research by manufacturers of Complementary & Alternative Medicine products. ANTA has also recently assisted several universities to conduct projects related to Complementary & Alternative Medicine research.

The group of medical researchers and scientists are misinformed regarding world, national and state developments in relation to Traditional Medicine/Complementary & Alternative Medicine and would be better advised to discuss with universities, ways in which they can work together to reduce the ever increasing and significant number of complaints received by the Health Care Complaints Commission from the public regarding doctors, dentists and nurses.

The Australian Natural Therapists Association (ANTA) has for many years worked with the higher education sector to establish and deliver degree courses in complementary medicine. ANTA will continue to support the delivery of degree courses by universities and colleges.

Support by the Federal Government, State Governments, Government Research Departments, WHO, Universities and Colleges demonstrates there is a commitment to quality research and education in the Complementary & Alternative Medicine professions in Australia.