Evidence base for natural medicine in Australia is already established says professional association

The Australian Traditional-Medicine Association (ATMS) welcomes the focus on Australian natural medicine, from the screening of Insight on SBS, on Tuesday, 13 September 2022.

Through an engaging discussion, there were calls from members of the audience for the establishment of an evidence base for natural medicines in Australia, particularly for Naturopathy.

This initiative already exists, through the Australian Government’s Natural Therapies Review. The very purpose of this ongoing Natural Therapies Review is to identify and publish the evidence base of the clinical effectiveness for selected natural medicines in Australia.

The full details of the Natural Therapies Review, including the published details of the evidence base for natural medicine is available on the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/private-health-insurance/private-healthinsurance-reforms/natural-therapies-review-2019-20.

ATMS calls on the Australian Government to conclude this Review and return these selected natural medicines to their rightful place within the Australian private health insurance system. 

Natural medicine has a proven evidence base and is used by a majority of Australians. Natural medicine should continue to form part of an integrated Australian health care system.

To enhance the integration of natural medicine into the Australian health care system, professional practitioner bodies, like ATMS, already have clear and well-defined professional practice standards. These standards cover education qualifications, including supervised clinical training, codes of professional conduct, and continuing professional education (CPE) requirements.

Some natural medicines are regulated through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) and others through State legislated Codes of Conduct for Health Care Workers.

ATMS would welcome further collaborative review into the regulation of natural medicine in Australia.