Unprescribed Remedies To Go Under The Microscope Amid Efficacy Concerns (Australia)

[HuckleB]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/unprescribed-remedies-to-go-under-the-microscope-amid-efficacy-concerns-20111117-1nl2f.html#ixzz1e6UPwniK

"AUSTRALIA'S over-the-counter medicines can expect tougher scrutiny in the wake of several government reviews spurred by rising criticism over the promotion of unproven remedies.

Within weeks, the federal government is likely to announce a revamp of the Therapeutic Goods Administration's regulation of new remedies.

Thousands of TGA-listed products already on the market, which have been introduced after minimal assessment, are able to make health claims without proof of efficacy.

The lack of effective controls on the products has been highlighted by the weight-loss spray SensaSlim. The product is at the centre of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission allegations of false and misleading advertising, but is still listed by the TGA.

..."


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If only the US would do more...

[Deep13]

1. So called dietary supplements need to be regulated as drugs.

It's not enough that a school teacher can throw a bunch of random stuff together and claim it stops colds.

[KT2000]

2. Another scam:

People are sick and turn to the yellow pages to find a doctor who will help. If they do not have health insurance, they are advised to go to a doctor who accepts uninsured patients. It is so funny because there aren't any in my town. They can go to the the emergency room though where they are only required to stabilize a life threatening situation. They send them away with advice to see their family doctor. That is funny too because they are back to being told they have to have insurance to see a doctor.
When their illness becomes life threatening, then the emergency room and hospital will treat it. Medicaid will not kick in until the person is too sick to function. That means things like breast cancer that do not sicken people until the end will not be covered by medicaid until it is likely too late.

This results in deaths.

[HuckleB]

3. Yes, it does.

And it doesn't have anything to do with this OP.

[KT2000]

4. The profit

medical establishment has a lot of power to secure their profits. The example describes the lengths to which the corporations will go to keep that power, even if it means deaths.
Another area they are struggling with now is emerging alternative medicine. The pharmaceutical industry has been working hard to put the supplement companies out of business. They are constantly attacking alternative therapies, working politicians to get prohibitive testing of supplements, limit the dosages and what can be sold to people. The goal is to remove the option from the public. They are not interested in them because they cannot be patented. This is about outlawing their competition.

There is no rash of injury or deaths from alternative therapies and supplements that has instigated this - it is about money.
Pharmaceutical companies on the other hand, produce products that are allowed on the market with knowledge they can cause injury. The point being, people and their doctors can decide for themselves if they want to risk side effects, some very serious, (including death) for the benefit they may receive.

People are dying every day from lack of access to medical care. That is the crisis we face - not putting supplement companies out of business and removing choice from the public.

[HuckleB]

5. Ah, so you'll excuse a complete scam by painting others with sweeping generalizations..

That's not just disingenuous, it's actually quite despicable.

There is no excuse for defending the scams of alt-med con artists.

[KT2000]

6. Alternative medicine

is a rather large umbrella. Some would call everything that is not part of the corporate approved medical protocol alternative medicine. I have utilized what some consider alternative medicine and it has helped me. I personally have not encountered any con artists.
I question the attacks on alternative medicine because I know that much of those attacks are corporate funded.

The latest pharmceutical miracle is a cancer drug that extends life by three months. It is only available to the very wealthy who can pay huge $$ in cash for it. They got tax breaks and likely government grants to develop it. That is a scam.

[HuckleB]

7. "Corporate approved medical protocol."

I see there is another anti-science bit of propaganda being pushed. And that's quite some crazy propaganda! WOW!

Thanks for sharing.

Again: WOW! :wow:

[xchrom]

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