Public Health Division, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Complementary Therapies/Traditional Chinese Medicine Home <

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This review was commenced in 1995. In November 1996, the research report 'Towards a Safer Choice: The Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Australia' was published. This report provides information on the TCM workforce in Australia, the patients using TCM, the educational institutions providing training, the risks and benefits of TCM, and the need for regulatory controls over its practice.

In September 1997, a discussion paper titled 'Traditional Chinese Medicine: Options for Regulation of Practitioners' was released and a public consultation process conducted nationwide. Newsletters (1, 2) provide supplementary information about the review process. The final report of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine has now been released.

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Acknowledgements

Foreword

Executive Summary

List of Recommendations

1. Background and Context

• 1.1 Overview
• 1.2 The Victorian Model of Health Practitioner Registration
• 1.3 Health Practitioner Registration and Mutual Recognition
• 1.4 Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC)
• 1.5 National Competition Policy
• 1.6 Commonwealth initiatives
• 1.7 Victorian Review Process

2. The Research Report: Towards a Safer Choice

• 2.1 Background
• 2.2 Key Findings
• 2.3 Risks Inherent in TCM
• 2.4 Analysis of Risk
• 2.5 The Need for Regulation: Assessment against the AHMAC Criteria

3. Consultation Process

• 3.1 Background
• 3.2 Public Meetings
• 3.3 Submissions

4. Options for Regulation

• 4.1 Self Regulation, Co-regulation and Statutory Registration
• 4.2 State versus National Approaches

5. Implementation Issues

• 5.1 Constitution and Powers of a TCM Registration Board
• 5.2 Modalities to be Regulated
• 5.3 Protection of Title versus Protection of Practice
• 5.4 Titles to be Protected
• 5.5 Approaches to Standard Setting
• 5.6 Grandparenting Arrangements
• 5.7 Non-English Speaking Practitioners
• 5.8 Prescribing of Scheduled Herbs
• 5.9 Regulation of Dispensing of Raw Herbs
• 5.10 Funding of a Regulatory System
• 5.11 Regulation of Practitioners Registered with another Board
• 5.12 Regulation of Practitioners of Other Forms of Complementary Therapies
• 5.13 Regulation of Other Traditions of Acupuncture
• 5.14 The Need for Research

Footnotes

Appendices

• Appendix 1: Victorian Model of Health Practitioner Registration
• Appendix 2: AHMAC Criteria for Assessing the Need for Statutory
• Regulation of Unregulated Health Occupations
• Appendix 3: Membership and Terms of Reference for TCM Ministerial Advisory Committee and Subcommittees
• Appendix 4: Towards a Safer Choice Executive Summary
• Appendix 5: Assessment of TCM against AHMAC Criteria Towards A Safer Choice
• Appendix 6: List of Submissions Received Public Consultation
• Appendix 7: ATMS Proposal: Government Monitored Self Regulation
• Appendix 8: Submissions Summary of Main Findings
• Appendix 9: Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Difficulties with Self-Regulation
• Appendix 10: NSW Health Department Submission to TCM Review
• Appendix 11: Approaches to GrandparentingTwo models

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For hard copies of the report Towards a Safer Choice, contact:
The Faculty Manager Faculty of Health University of Western Sydney Macarthur PO Box 555 CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560	Tel: 6146 203 347 Fax: 6146 254 252 Email: j.slater@uws.edu.au
For hard copies of the discussion paper and final report of the TCM Review, contact:
Ms Anne-Louise Carlton Project Manager, TCM Review Workforce Unit Public Health Division Department of Human Services 18/120 Spencer Street MELBOURNE VIC 3001	Tel: 613 9637 4230 Fax: 613 9637 4744 Email: anne-louise.carlton@dhs.vic.gov.au

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The report draws extensively on the publication Towards a Safer Choice: The Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Australia prepared by
Mr Alan Bensoussan and Dr Stephen Myers.

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