A key health issue being ignored in the general election is the matter of New Zealand losing control over access to alternative medicines, according the Democrats for Social Credit (DSC) Leader Stephnie de Ruyter and Health spokesman David Tranter.
Although the Annette King-driven agenda to put New Zealand under the control of the Australian TGA has been sidelined for now, largely because of widespread public protest, it is understood that the legislation has been "parked' awaiting a suitable opportunity to push it through.
“The many New Zealanders who rely on medicines and treatments outside of those produced by the pharmaceutical giants need to understand just how draconian are the measures being applied by the Australian TGA and endorsed by Mrs. King and the New Zealand Medsafe Authority” Ms de Ruyter said.
“In 2003 the Australian TGA was found guilty of illegal behaviour by the NSW Supreme Court and subsequently confirmed by the Federal Court with $55 million damages awarded against the TGA. Yet incredibly the Australian government took no action against the TGA and it is the long-suffering Australian taxpayers who have to pay up while the pharmaceutical industry is protected.
“This is definitely not the sort of regime which New Zealanders want dictating to us concerning our access to alternative medicines and treatment” Ms de Ruyter said.
“While governments claim public safety as justification for imposing draconian restrictions on alternative medicines they ignore the horrifying incidence of deaths caused by some products of the multi-national pharmaceutical giants” said DSC Health Spokesman David Tranter.
“In comparison, attempts to vilify alternative products fail miserably. Anyone wishing to get a complete picture of the authorities' pro-pharmaceutical/anti-alternative mindset can do so on the New Zealand Health Freedom website.
“Health Freedom summarises the situation as follows; "Therapeutic claims are permitted for synthetic toxic poisons and potentially dangerous pharmaceutical drugs but are not permitted for safe, effective natural products (dietary supplements, herbs, functional foods, essential oils, cosmetic creams, homeopathy, Rongoa Maori, Chinese medicine, Ayuvedic medicine)".
“The power of the pharmaceutical industry is alarming and voters should ask election candidates where their parties stand on the basic right of people to decide for themselves what medicines they should take and whether party policies support access to alternative treatments” Ms de Ruyter added.
“The DSC goes further than endorsing this right to choose since our health policy states: ‘Alternative medicine will be fully funded where the proper registration and contractual arrangements have been made and the cost is not significantly more than equivalent (pharmaceutical-based) health care’" she concluded.