Complementary medicine : important to our healthcare system

Australians enjoy access to a wide range of complementary medicines and therapies (CM) - in fact we rank as one of the highest users of CM amongst developed nations. More than two in three Australians, including medical and healthcare practitioners, use CM in some form each year.It’s an industry growing at six per cent per annum, with a turnover of $3.1 billion in 2010: worthy of consideration in the context of total government expenditure on pharmaceuticals of $8.9 billion in 2010-11. So why are we so prepared to invest in CM, with much coming out of our own pockets? Several key reasons are commonly reported: 1. Many CM users take responsibility for their own health. This is a key component to effective health strategies. CM users exhibit healthier lifestyles, with more exercise, less smoking and better diets than the general population. This is consistent with the view that CM is used to promote health and prevent disease. 2. A high proportion of CM use (42 per cent) is for the management of chronic diseases that are national health priorities. 3. Consumers are aware of the growing evidence that many CM interventions are relatively safe and effective. CM is often considered as a primary, less risky intervention to long-term pharmaceutical use or even surgery.