Media Releases
Expert committee members and terms of references announced on complementary medicines in health system
The Federal Government today announced a list of 16 members who will form the expert committee to examine complementary medicines in the health care system.
TW 19/2003
15 May 2003
Expert committee members and terms of references announced on complementary medicines in health system
The Federal Government today announced a list of 16 members who will form the expert committee to examine complementary medicines in the health care system.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Trish Worth, today also released the terms of reference for the committee.
Ms Worth said the eminent group appointed to the committee covered all aspects of the complementary medicines industry - including academic, clinical and industry experts.
"The expert committee, to be chaired by Dr Michael Bollen AM, will focus on issues around the supply of safe, high quality complementary medicines, quality use of and timely access to these medicines, and the maintenance of a responsible and viable complementary medicines industry."
Ms Worth said that under the terms of reference, the committee will consider the regulatory, health system and industry structures necessary to ensure that the central objectives of the National Medicines Policy are met in relation to complementary medicines.
"The committee will examine and provide advice on regulatory controls covering appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy, consumer information, education and training of health care practitioners, interactions between complementary and prescribed medicines, restrictions on advertising, and activities to promote an innovative, responsible and viable complementary medicines industry," Ms Worth said.
"The Pan Pharmaceuticals recall has highlighted the importance of preventing or deterring deliberate or reckless breaches of standards and conditions applicable to the manufacture of medicines in order to protect the health and safety of the Australian public," Ms Worth said.
"The establishment of this committee will go a long way towards giving the public and all health care practitioners confidence that the Government is taking the necessary steps to examine the role of complementary medicines in the health care system, while encouraging the continuation of Australia's reputation as a supplier of high quality and safe medicines."
The committee will report back to the Commonwealth Government by mid August.
The list of committee members and Terms of Reference are below.
Media contact: Mark Williams ph 0401 147 558
Expert committee on complementary medicines in the health system
Terms of Reference
The Expert Committee will consider the regulatory, health system and industry structures necessary to ensure that the central objectives of the National Medicines Policy are met in relation to complementary medicines. The supply of safe, high quality and efficacious complementary medicines, the quality use of and timely access to these medicines and the maintenance of a responsible and viable complementary medicines industry are important objectives for Governments, healthcare practitioners, consumers and industry.
The Expert Committee will examine and provide advice on:
- The national system of regulatory controls required to ensure that complementary medicines meet appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy;
- The information needs of consumers of complementary medicines;
- The education, training, and regulation requirements for healthcare practitioners who are supplying complementary medicines and/or providing advice or delivering care to consumers of complementary medicines;
- The potential for interaction between complementary medicines and prescribed medicines used by consumers and the means to provide this information to healthcare practitioners;
- The nature and extent of restrictions required on advertising (including internet advertising) of complementary medicines to consumers; and
- The regulatory and industry activities necessary to promote an innovative, responsible and viable complementary medicines industry in Australia.
Expert committee on complementary medicines in the health system
Committee members
| Name | Affiliation | Expertise |
| Dr Michael Bollen
(Chair) | Member of the National Health and Medical Research Council
Principal, BMP Healthcare Consulting Pty Ltd | Quality use of medicines, healthcare delivery, consumer medicines information and general medical practice |
| Professor Bill Webster | Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney
Member, Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee | Toxicology and the safety of complementary medicines |
| Associate Professor Alan Bensoussan | Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney
Member, Expert Advisory Panel on Complementary Medicines | Use and evaluation of complementary medicines and therapies in clinical practice; practitioner education and training |
| Professor Stephen Myers | Director, Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research, Southern Cross University/ University of Queensland
Member, Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee | Use and evaluation of complementary medicines in medical practice; practitioner education and training |
| Associate Professor Heather Yeatman | Graduate School of Public Health, University of Wollongong
Member, Complementary Medicines Evaluation Committee Member, Food Standards Australia New Zealand Board | Consumer issues associated with the use of complementary medicines, food and nutrition |
| Ms Juliet Seifert | Executive Director, Australian Self-Medication Industry | Quality use of medicines and industry issues, including complementary medicines |
| Mr Ross Johnston | Vice President Manufacturing Operations Asia Pacific Wyeth | Quality assurance in the manufacture of complementary, OTC and prescription medicines |
| Associate Professor John Eden | University of New South Wales, School of Women's and Children's Health | Use of complementary medicines and therapies in medical practice, particularly in women's health |
| Professor Alistair MacLennan | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
University of Adelaide | Complementary medicine epidemiology and safety of complementary medicines |
| Dr Kerry Breen | Chair, NHMRC Australian Health Ethics Committee | Ethical issues associated with the promotion and use of medicines |
| Dr John Aloizos | Chair, Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council | Implementation of all aspects of National Medicines Policy and general medical practice |
| Mr David Macleod | Naturopath, Fellow with the Australian acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association | Use of complementary medicines in complementary medicine practice; practitioner education and training |
| Mr Anthony Nunan | Principal - Parade Pharmacy; Nunan's Watsonia Pharmacy; Heath's Road Medical Clinic Pharmacy
Chairman - | Small business issues; quality use of medicines; postgraduate pharmacist education and training; pharmacy |
| Mr Darin Walters | Chief Executive Officer; Blackmores Ltd | Complementary medicines industry |
*Two additional members will be confirmed shortly. They will represent the views of state and territory health authorities, and expertise in medical education and evaluation of efficacy and clinical pharmacology.
