Category Archives: Complementary medicine

Hangover products still advertised despite complaints and lack of evidence

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Dr Ken Harvey

From July 2018 to July 2020, complaints about a convenience sample of eighteen complementary medicine hangover products, by eight sponsors, advertised on thirty different Internet sites (cases) were submitted to the TGA. It was alleged that all these advertisements breached … Continue reading →

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Resignation from TGACC

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

My resignation from the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Consultative Committee (TGACC) was precipitated by the non-response of Adj Professor John Skerritt, Deputy Secretary, Health Products Regulation Group, Department of Health, to long-standing issues raised yet again at the Skepticon 2020 regulatory … Continue reading →

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Independent Review of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Framework: Recommendations

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

In 2018, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, committed to a review of the impact of the new therapeutic goods advertising measures within two years from the commencement of the changes to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to … Continue reading →

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Complementary medicine weight loss products complaints submitted to the TGA in 2018-2019. Follow-up July 2020

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

This research was conducted by a team of Monash University BSc students on a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement, supervised by Assoc Prof Ken Harvey. The team reviewed the following complaints submitted on: 6 July 2018, Pharmacare Laboratories FatBlaster FatMagnet products, … Continue reading →

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TGA stakeholder survey 2019

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

Perceptions of the regulation of complementary medicines: GPs & consumers This 2019 survey follows the first TGA (2018) survey of consumer perceptions about the regulation of complementary medicines. GPs were not surveyed in 2018. Pharmacists have yet to be surveyed. … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 Scams – ABC update on MMSAustralia

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

On 5 May 2020, ABC 7:30 (Grace Tobin) reported on the ‘Genesis II Church of Health and Healing’. The Australian branch, MMSAustralia.com.au currently promotes and sells Master Mineral Solution (MMS) – chlorine dioxide (a bleach) as a ‘sacrament of the Church’. … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 Scams: MMSAUSTRALIA.COM.AU – Chlorine dioxide

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

MMSAustralia.com.au currently describes itself as a ‘Ministry of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing’. It promotes and sells Master Mineral Solution (MMS) – chlorine dioxide (a bleach) as a ‘sacrament of the Church’. For example, ‘Jim Humble Approved … Continue reading →

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Monash SPHPM Therapeutic Goods and Services Research Group 2020 pre- & post-COVID-19

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

Our action-orientated research helps consumers and health professionals make more informed choices about medicines and medical devices. We do this by analysing policy, making submissions to government, submitting complaints about unethical practice, encouraging regulators to act, being a credible source … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 Scams: Hydrogen Technologies Pty Ltd

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

‘GROUNDBREAKING HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY SHOWS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS’ On 14 April 2020 a press release from Hydrogen Technologies Pty Ltd said: ‘Molecular hydrogen and oxygen technology is not only helping open the airways ofCoronavirus victims by reducing the inflammation … Continue reading →

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COVID-19 scams: BergaMet Pro +

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Dr Ken Harvey

On 9 April, 2020 the web site for BergaMet Pro + claimed, ‘Ingredients in BergaMet Pro + provide a resistance to infectious pathogens such as SARS and COVID-19’ (appended). This implied claim to prevent or cure COVID-19 resulted in a … Continue reading →

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