In our latest Pre-Budget Submission, CMA advocates that the Government consults with Australia's complementary medicines industry to incorporate the role of complementary medicine in the national preventive health strategy and agenda.

We urge the Government to:

1. Consult with the complementary medicines industry to incorporate the role of complementary medicine in the national preventive health strategy and agenda.

2. Prioritise removing the ban on private health insurance rebates for natural therapies.

3. Develop industry policies that support the growth of Australian complementary medicine manufacturing, including raw materials.

4. Increase funding for Austrade to facilitate increased overseas promotion and new export opportunities for Australian complementary medicine products.

5. Initiate a review by the TGA to address industry concerns related to regulations; this will focus on identifying and reassessing areas of over-regulation and inefficient regulation incommensurate with risk aiming to foster a more balanced regulatory culture with strategies to manage risk, permitting greater innovation and industry growth without compromising safety.

6. Provide adequate funding for the TGA to undertake all non-cost-recoverable work so that these costs are not passed onto the industry.

7. Provide additional funding for the Department of Health to undertake positive education campaigns relating to the public health benefits of evidence-based nutritional substances and regulation of complementary medicine products.

8. Provide more significant support for complementary medicine research through targeted funding and increased research and development incentives.

Further details on implementing these recommendations are outlined here: CMA Pre Budget Submission 2024-25.pdf