China leads the world with the highest number of research publications on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicines (TCIMs) in relation to COVID-19 clinical trials, followed by India, US, and Iran.
They say that grey hair is a symbol of wisdom. This is so true as many Australian seniors are now taking a more proactive approach to their own healthcare by doing independent research to stay healthy and active.
Australia's natural nutrition industry body has come out fighting after a government review into pharmacy regulations in the country published concerns over the sale of complementary medicines.
Australia’s complementary medicines industry has warned the opposition Labor party that its new policy to cut the rebate for natural therapies was a “false economy” that would only succeed in damaging the nation’s health.
The Australian complementary health industry lobbied state and territory ministers assembled at a Medicare reform meeting in Canberra last weekend to press for increased policy recognition for natural nutrition.
A family’s youngest child is most likely to miss out on breastfeeding, according to an Australian study that also found that a woman’s education level and the number of children she has also affect its likelihood.
In just two years, Australia’s complementary medicines industry has grown from A$2.3bn (US$1.7bn) to A$4.2bn (US$3.1), with increasing acceptance and demand from consumers, both at home and abroad.
Australia’s booming complementary medicines segment “epitomises the goals” of the government’s science agenda and its drive to support smart ideas, the industry’s representative body believes.
A final report by an independent review panel on how to streamline regulations in Australia’s complementary medicines sector has stressed the importance of cutting red tape.
Although a jolly affair, the Complementary Medicines Australia annual conference a year ago took place to a backdrop of concern over the so-called race to the bottom in consumer preventative health.
By Carl Gibson, chief executive of Complementary Medicines Australia
Benjamin Franklin’s quote that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is often used when referring to health, though he originally meant it in the context of fire safety.
The decision by Blackmores, the well-known Australian supplements company, to fund alternative medicine research at Sydney Univeristy has sparked a debate into whether universities should accept money from corporations to fund research.
As Australian authorities review the way they regulate complementary medicines, they could uncover a real opportunity to implement more harmonisation between countries. It just needs to be found if this could be done practically.
By Carl Gibson, chief executive of Complementary Medicines Australia
General practitioners need to gain a better understanding of complementary medicines, especially now that the Australian health minister, Sussan Ley, has announced a collaborative governance arrangement for future GP training.
The representative body for the complementary medicines industry has responded to the government’s medicines review by calling for regulation that reflects risk, protects consumers, safeguards quality and promotes industry best practice.
Complementary medicine may have been welcomed back to the fold after an official review panel added a new chapter on alternative health to the landmark discussion document on healthcare deregulation it released last year.
Australia’s non-pharmaceutical medicines lobby has called on the government ahead of the federal budget to reflect on the economic and health benefits its members have had on Australia’s healthcare system.
By Carl Gibson, chief executive of Complementary Medicines Australia
Reflecting on the year that has passed, it is surprising how much has changed in the complementary medicines industry in Australia in such a short time.
Australia complementary health under the spotlight
A year ago, the then newly installed chief executive of what was known as the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia (CHC) urged health authorities to move from an illness model to a wellness model.
Speaking at the complementary medicines industry’s national conference Sydney, the chief executive of Complementary Medicines Australia welcomed a report by Frost & Sullivan to show a robust link between some complementary medicines with the reduced...
Tony Abbott’s crusade to cut Australian bureaucratic red tape will now target the complementary medicines industry by considering a greater acceptance of international standards.
Australia’s complementary healthcare industry lobby has called on Canberra to embrace deregulation of non-pharmaceutical medicines as a means to reduce costs while safeguarding consumer health.
The food industry has come out largely in support of this week’s Australian federal Budget, which is being viewed by commentators as the toughest in two decades.
Ahead of the Australian national Budget next week, the Complementary Healthcare Council has called on lawmakers to move away from what it calls a “short-sighted slash-and-burn approach” and adopt a long-term focus of endorsing complementary treatments.
Profile: Carl Gibson, CEO of Complementary Healthcare Council, Australia
For somebody who is often seen to be “slamming” an unfavourable study, or “hitting back” at research showing complementary medicine in a negative light, Carl Gibson is in a less belligerent mood today.
The Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia (CHC) has called on the government to change its health focus from supporting what it calls “an ailing and expensive illness model” to one that promotes wellbeing.
The launch of the World Health Organisation’s new strategy for traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) has met with approval from industry groups.
The new chief executive of the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia has used his maiden speech to call on the incoming government to invest making the country healthier.
By Dr Wendy Morrow, executive director, Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia
Something is not right when regulators increasingly opt to assess complementary medicines against medical criteria—in much the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are assessed.
