APMA has welcomed the Federal Government's action in putting the medicines industry on notice to regulate and control the promotion and advertising of high-risk therapeutic products or face Government legislation to impose strong ethical standards.

Position papers on both promotion to health professionals and public advertising of Therapeutic Goods were released by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP, at a National Medicines Policy Partnerships Forum on 30 June 2010.

APMA also welcomed the Government’s decision to review the advertising guidelines for all therapeutic goods including complementary medicines. APMA Secretary Lil Carrigan said that “while some medical organisations such as Medicines Australia have developed more rigorous ethical codes, others, particularly complementary medicines, have been unable to properly regulate sections of their industry. It is our experience that many people with chronic pain can become desperate and are vulnerable to ‘gadgetry and quackery’ to ‘cure their pain.’

Requirements under the new National Registration and Accreditation Scheme to ensure that health professionals meet their obligations in complying with ethical standards will help to enable consumers to trust the claims that are being made about products.

APMA, along with other health consumers will want to play an active role in the development of these principles, and expects the Government to follow through with its proposal for legislation if industry fails the test. This will give the public confidence that the public interest is being enforced.

APMA proposes to provide input into a CHF submission on the Government's Position Paper on the Promotion of Therapeutic Goods, and the Consultation Paper on Advertising Therapeutic Goods in Australia, and seeks members' views and experiences to inform our input.

Please provide any feedback via email on the Contact page of this website.