Published by Computachem Services

P.O Box 297.
Alstonville. 2477
NSW Australia

Phone:
61 2 66285138

The recent furore caused by the TGA recall of products manufactured by PAN Pharmaceuticals, has been punctuated by confusion of issues, misleading statements (by people who ought to know better), plus media hype and beat-up.
Issues of evidenced-based medicine, efficacy of complementary medicines, qualifications and abilities of practitioners, have somehow been promoted in place of the real (single issue) of good manufacturing practice.
And the product that brought the problem to light (Travacalm) is not even a complementary medicine!

PAN Pharmaceuticals was a contract manufacturer of pharmacy OTC medicines such as pain relievers and cough mixtures, some prescription medicines, and a range of complementary medicines, which included vitamins, minerals, nutritional dietary substances, herbal, homeopathic and aromatherapy medicines.
The range of reputable manufacturers and distributors who contracted to PAN Pharmaceuticals includes many large and well-known names in the pharmaceutical industry.
It would appear that they were satisfied with the product they were receiving, for there is no record of prior complaint by any of these companies.
In fact, before and since the PAN product recall, there has not been a single instance of an adverse event associated with the recalled group of complementary medicines-only that of Travacalm, which is not a complementary medicine.

As would be expected, the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia has issued a statement in the form of a true chronology of events, which opens out to form a poster, for all health professionals to display in their practice environments.
This is being done to assist the rebuilding of consumer confidence, which was severely damaged.
It states:

"* The PAN Pharmaceuticals product recall is NOT a complementary healthcare issue. It is an alleged failure of good manufacturing and quality control procedures by a single pharmaceutical manufacturer.
* The reported adverse events that led to the PAN products recall were caused by a single orthodox drug, Travacalm, which is not a complementary healthcare product (CHP).
* We are not aware of any adverse events related to manufacturing or quality control for any of the recalled CHPs.
* In Australia, the majority of CHPs are manufactured by companies other than PAN and are safe for continued consumption.
* CHPs are important components of your own health care. Suddenly stopping certain products can cause health problems. Always consult your healthcare professional before ceasing any CHPs.
* Australia has one of the most stringent regulatory systems for CHPs in the world. In most countries, CHPs are regulated to food standards, whereas in Australia they are manufactured to pharmaceutical standards.
* Over 70 percent of Australians regularly use CHPs.
* Complementary medicine takes the load off the medical system. Each dollar a person spends on CHPs reduces public health expenditure by about four dollars.
* There is a wealth of high quality published evidence demonstrating both the safety and health benefits of CHPs.
* Orthodox medicines cost Australia approximately $60 billion per year (or $3000 per person), with about half paid from the public purse. Two thirds of Australians outlay just over $2 billion per year (or $100 per person) on complementary medicines, none of which is paid from the public purse."

Health Minister Kay Patterson's supposed interest in preventative health measures (as reported in media budget statements) evidently does not extend to the use of complementary medicines.
Given her stance at distancing herself from the PAN debate, but fueling the controversy wherever she could behind the scenes, in collaboration with parliamentary secretary Trish Worth, you would think that any program involving preventative issues must definitely embrace aspects of complementary medicine.

An "expert committee" that has been established by these two worthies, seems to comprise many persons openly hostile to the complementary medicines industry.
The haste in its establishment and the composition of the panel leads one to think that the outcome is already established, before any attempt at "expert" discussion and ultimate advice can be given to the Minister.

Complementary medicines are an area where patients can control their own treatment, free of domination of orthodox medicine control (or so they thought).
This freedom of choice is an aspect that appeals to most consumers.
Underlying this process is the fact that complementary medicines, in the main, are affordable.
Partly, this is achieved because complementary medicines cannot be patented, and there is no price loading because of a patent.
The attack on the complementary medicine industry is also driven by cartel arrangements made between global drug manufacturers.
This is a matter of public record, and involves pharmaceutical companies controlling the primary complementary source materials, and then collusively elevating prices so that the ultimate price to the consumer begins to approach orthodox drug prices.
This same group of manufacturers further exacerbate this process by lobbying for regulations on complementary medicines (through government agencies), which has the effect of further driving up retail prices.
Orthodox manufacturers include astronomical amounts for marketing and research, in the cost price of their drugs, and it is in their ultimate interest to have highly priced complementary medicines.
To have too much of a disparity between the price of an orthodox drug and a complementary medicine, would shift more consumers into the cheaper complementary medicine fold.
By these methods, among many others, drug manufacturers artificially sustain high prices for orthodox drugs.
It is also a "win-win" situation for them as they gouge enormous profits from their control of complementary medicine prices, while still being able to raise orthodox medicine prices by traditional means,
No wonder they are so powerful.

I have no doubt that the "expert committee" being promoted by Kay Patterson has been established to placate global pharmacy manufacturers.
It also seems a bit hypocritical when one sees that the new trans-Tasman regulatory agency will be overseeing advertising and restrictions on complementary medicine.
You only need to view the nightly TV "news" and current affairs programs, where supposedly "new" drugs are treated as news items.
Inevitably these are already established drugs with a "new" indication.
Hardly newsworthy!
They are also Schedule Four prescription drugs, and the so-called "news" is a disguised form of advertising. Advertising of these drugs is illegal (and they often illustrate branded packages), so where is the regulator in these instances?
Consumers are often informed by this method, ahead of health professionals, again removing a "check and a balance".

It is about time these practices and the underhanded attacks on the complementary medicines industry were discussed openly and publicly. If this new "expert committee" was balanced up a little, it might make a lively and illuminating forum for the airing of all these issues, by getting them out for debate.

And just a final word for those orthodox health professionals who continually bleat about "lack of evidence" for complementary medicines. It would be my considered opinion that not one of these commentators would have any real knowledge of complementary medicines, and irrespective of any good information coming out in favour of complementary medicines, they would still block it out.
This irrationality is simply emotionally charged and not "evidence-based".
There are a growing number of leading universities and institutions (including Sydney University) carrying out research and studies on complementary medicines. In fact, a product based on ginger is being commercially developed by Sydney University, as a promising, new type of analgesic.
And despite what anyone may think, thousand of years of tradition behind most complementary medicines cannot be set aside without evidence to the contrary.
The fact that a reverse process is forced, just to comply with orthodox medicine dictates, flies in the face of a cheap, safe and effective branch of healthcare which has always been under the control of the individual.
The New World Order, where our lives and freedoms are increasingly being dominated by a few people, controlling a few global corporations, is fast coming upon us.