To the Editor: In the January issue of the Journal, Harvey et al raised some serious concerns about the listing system for complementary medicines.1 In particular, they suggest scrapping the listing system (AUST L) and requiring complementary medicine (CM) products to be evaluated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for efficacy.
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- 1. Harvey KJ, Korczak VS, Marron LJ, Newgreen DB. Commercialism, choice and consumer protection: regulation of complementary medicines in Australia. Med J Aust 2008; 188: 21-25. <MJA full text>
- 2. Linde K, Mulrow CD, Berner M, Egger M. St John’s wort for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; (2): CD000448.
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I am the Managing Director of an Australian complementary medicine company, and own shares in that company. No company product names have been mentioned, and the letter is an industry view on an article which examines issues in relation to complementary medicine products promoted in Australia.