KEN Harvey says he and his so-called "fringe group" colleagues are raising genuine concerns about proposed revisions to the "current convoluted and impotent advertising complaint system".
Responding to Complementary Medicines Australia ceo Carl Gibson (PD yesterday), Harvey said he is supportive of the TGA taking over complaints about therapeutic goods, however he is concerned with the agency's track record in dealing with them.
"Since 2011 the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Complaint Resolution Panel has submitted 541 complaints to the TGA for non-compliance with Panel determinations and other reasons.
"Over that time the TGA has only published information about 78 (14%) complaints; 46 that attracted a 'Regulation 9 order' and 32 complaints where compliance was achieved following TGA intervention.
"Numerous additional complaints, sent direct to the TGA, have never been reported on," Harvey said, claiming that therefore the Complaints Resolution Panel's track record was better than the TGA's.
He noted that response times from the current Complaints Resolution Panel had been hampered by the refusal of the TGA to fund sitting fees for a representative from the RACGP.
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