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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
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