Over the next few weeks, the natural healthcare industry will be showcasing its commitment to the health and wellbeing of Australian consumers through a range of activities to celebrate Natural Healthcare Month, September 2003.
Kicking off the month will be "Natural Healthcare Week", with consumer-focussed activities planned to promote the use and benefits of natural healthcare.

The effects of the Pan Pharmaceutical crisis earlier this year crippled the natural healthcare industry and significantly impacted on consumer confidence in natural health products.

The focus of Natural Healthcare Week will be restoring consumer confidence and encouraging consumers to adopt a natural and healthy approach to life through the use of vitamins, supplements and herbal products as part of a healthy lifestyle. Its aim is to reassure consumers on the safety, quality and benefits of natural healthcare.

We are proud to announce that Susie Maroney and Greg Chappell, two of Australia's most famous sporting stars, have agreed to launch Natural Healthcare Week. Susie and Greg represent a healthy approach to life, and are highly respected members of the community who, through outstanding personal and sporting achievements, have earned the community's trust.

Susie and Greg will be travelling to the major capital cities throughout the first week in September to conduct community and public events aimed at informing consumers about the natural alternatives available to them to improve their health and wellbeing.

Another exciting event planned for September will be the Great Debate where members of the natural healthcare industry, traditional medical establishment and consumer movement will debate the topic "Health System or Disease System: is Natural Healthcare the Prevention Tool our Health System Needs?"

To be hosted by Nine Network political correspondent and Canberra Press Gallery veteran Laurie Wilson, the debate is sure to be a thought provoking afternoon's entertainment. It includes lunch and is to be held on the 11th September in Sydney. All those with an interest in the shift to preventative health and the role that natural therapies can play in this are invited to attend.

The third week will be when things get political for Natural Healthcare Month, with a summit to be held in Parliament House, Canberra, on the 16th and 17th September. The theme of the summit is "The Wellness Revolution", and we will be again highlighting the role of natural healthcare in making our health system more focussed on prevention, keeping people fit and well, and approaching treatment from a whole body and lifestyle perspective rather than from a disease-specific perspective.

Attendees at the summit will include representatives of consumer, insurance and health care organisations, natural healthcare industry members, politicians, media, and others with an interest in the issue. Activities over the two days include a hypothetical session, industry dinner, politicians' breakfast and a wide range of speakers on natural healthcare in the Australian health system.

It is sure to be a great chance for members of the industry to meet with key decision makers, and to highlight natural healthcare as a public policy issue with Canberra's opinion leaders.

Finally, Natural Healthcare Month will conclude with a Telstra address to the National Press Club, Canberra, by Professor Stephen Myers on the 24th September. Entitled "Riding the Rapids: Complementary Medicines Goes Mainstream", this speech will highlight the role of natural products and therapies in the Australian health system, with reference to the recent difficulties faced by the natural healthcare industry as it comes further into the mainstream of medical practice.

Professor Myers is Director of the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education & Research and is a well-known expert in the field. His experience in, and vision for, the natural healthcare industry will ensure that this luncheon address will give us all something to think about at the end of Natural Healthcare Month.

All in all, the industry is looking forward to an exciting month, and we know there will be events of interest over the four weeks for anyone with an interest in the future of our health system.

For further information on Natural Healthcare Month, or any of the events outlined above, the Complementary Healthcare Council office can be contacted on (02) 6260 4022.

Val Johanson, Executive Director, Complementary Healthcare Council