Policy & Strategic Projects Division >> Complementary Therapies/Traditional Chinese Medicine >> Newsletter

Newsletter Number 1, February 1996

In August 1995, the Victorian Department of Health and Community Services (H&CS) commenced a review of the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The purpose of the review is to assess the need, if any, for registration of TCM practitioners and regulation of Chinese herbal preparations. The first stage of the review is a major research project which has been tendered to a consortium of Universities led by University of Western Sydney (Macarthur). The research has been jointly funded by H&CS and the Department of Health in NSW.

The purpose of the research is to investigate:

• The risks associated with the practice of TCM.
• The nature of the TCM workforce in Victoria and NSW.
• The need for legislative regulation of TCM practice.

The study has the full support of both the Victorian and NSW Health Ministers. It has been prompted by the increase in demand for TCM with a concurrent rise in complaints from consumers about the use of herbal preparations and the difficulties in ensuring appropriate standards.

H&CS is keen to ensure that those who have an interest in TCM are kept informed of progress with the research project and the review process. This is the first in a series of information sheets designed to provide information to practitioners, consumers and TCM organisations. If you require any further information on the review, you can contact:

Ms Anne-Louise Carlton
Public Health Division
H&CS
G.P.O. Box 4057
Melbourne 3001
Tel: (03) 9616 8524
Fax: (03) 9616 8383
Email: anne-louise.carlton@dhs.vic.gov.au

The Research Team

The Project Directorate for the research project consists of:

Mr Alan Bensoussan
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health,
University of Western Sydney (Macarthur)
Tel: (02) 772 9363
Fax: (02) 773 0998

Scope of the Research

The research project will investigate and report on seven main areas:

1. The regulatory frameworks in China, other countries, and all states of Australia.
2. The profile of the TCM workforce in Victoria and NSW including the organisations that represent practitioners.
3. The profile of patients using TCM and patient satisfaction.
4. The risks and benefits of TCM.
5. The nature of the links and referral networks between practitioners of TCM and other health care practitioners.
6. The nature of TCM education in Australia and China.
7. The adequacy or otherwise of the current state regulatory frameworks.

All components of the study will be undertaken in both NSW and Victoria.

The research team is due to provide an interim report in April 1996, with the final report scheduled for August 1996. Mr Bensoussan has stated:

‘This is a landmark project in its detailed analysis of the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It deserves the ongoing support and contribution of the TCM profession and all relevant interest groups in order to ensure comprehensiveness, accuracy and validity of the final document.’

Below is a report prepared by University of Western Sydney (Macarthur) on progress with the research project.

Risks and Benefits

The risks analysis will focus on two key areas - Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. We have commenced with extensive computer database searches, manual searches through Chinese journals (which do not appear on the computer databases), and contacts with managers of specialist databases in the United Kingdom, USA and Hong Kong.

Evaluation of the potential benefits of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has commenced and, as would be expected, is hard labour. Information is also being compiled on education of TCM practitioners in China for inclusion in the Interim Report.

Meetings with TCM Associations

A number of meetings of TCM and other associations have already been held in both Melbourne and Sydney. An executive representative from each association, with practising members in Victoria or NSW, was invited to attend. The first meeting in each city brought together representatives from associations who were solely involved in TCM. The second meeting brought together representatives of associations who were concerned with more than TCM or whose members generally practised at least one other health care modality, for example medical practitioners, chiropractors, osteopaths, nurses, massage therapists and so on. At the meetings, the overall project brief was outlined.

The study, whilst applauded, triggered some concern by the attending members as being a very extensive review given the time frame. Overall, the meetings served as an excellent opportunity to receive input and views from the profession and, in general, to discuss a range of components of the research.

Practitioner Survey

The practitioner survey instrument was pilot-trialed in both Sydney and Melbourne, and the Project Directorate is grateful for feedback received during and after those meetings. Keep it coming on all matters! The patient profile was also submitted to scrutiny at the TCM practitioner meetings and was well received.

The practitioner survey instrument and the related process, as well as the patient profile, were submitted for approval to the Ethics Committee of H&CS. The survey has been accepted subject to some further clarifications and amendments. The practitioner survey instrument and patient profile are currently being typeset into their final formats.

Developing the Mailing List

Professional TCM associations have been requested to provide their mailing list of practitioner members for participation in the survey and to commence preparing information about their organisation. Some associations have already responded and, as there were no objections in principle at the association meetings, we anticipate having a comprehensive mailing list compiled fairly soon.

The practitioner survey instrument will be sent out in lateMarch. Practitioners are asked to respond within two weeks of receipt and associations are requested to encourage their membership to respond. Whilst all practitioners will receive a bilingual (English/Chinese)explanatory letter, the survey will also be translated into Chinese and available on request. English, Mandarin and Cantonese assistance will be available.

Interviews

Approximately one in twenty practitioners (who practise TCM as their primary modality) will then be invited to participate in further in-depth interviews. The interviews will be performed in English, Mandarin and Cantonese as required. Furthermore, approximately one in twenty practitioners will also be invited to participate in gathering non-identifying data about their patients (the patient profile). This will require practitioners to complete a form for each patient contact during specified time. There will be no great burden of time on participating practitioners.

Legal Consultant

Ms Caroline Marsh from Blake, Dawson and Waldron solicitors has agreed to act as a consultant in the compilation of the information on direct and indirect regulatory controls in TCM both locally and overseas. Dr Arthur O?Neill has also commenced work in this area, gathering data from departmental documents in Melbourne and interviewing departmental staff.

Media Watch

Announcement of this TCM review project has attracted significant media interest resulting in a number of newspaper articles, including the Sunday Age and Herald Sun, and on ABC radio (Melbourne).

For any further information on the research project, contact Mr Bensoussan on the above number. If you require this newsletter in Chinese, please contact Anne-Louise Carlton.