1. Australian National Registration of Chinese Medicine 2012
Prof. Tzi Chiang Lin PhD
National President, Federation of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Societies of Australia Ltd; Vice Chair, World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies
Kylie A O’Brien PhD
Victoria University, Australia

2. Statutory Regulation of Chinese Medicine in Victoria: Subsequent Impact on National Registration

4. The Proceedings of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for the Health Professions
Intergovernmental Agreement for a National
Registration and Accreditation Scheme for the Health
Professions signed by the Council of Australian
Governments on 26 March 2008.
Australian Workforce Ministerial Council announced the
design of a new National Registration and Accreditation
Scheme on 8 May 2009.
Finally it was decided Chinese medicine will be
included in the national registration scheme in
July 2012.

5. History of statutory regulation of Chinese medicine in Victoria and influence on other Australian states
Australian government included Chinese Medicine in the
Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in 1991
RMIT University and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine signed
agreement to offer Chinese Medicine degree courses in 1992
Victorian government announced Chinese Medicine Review
Committee be established on 17 August 1995
Premier of Victoria Hon Mr Jeff Kennett announced the schedule of
legislation of Chinese Medicine in Victorian Parliament
on 6 August 1998

6. History continued…
Victorian Parliament passed the Chinese Medicine Registration Act 2000 through the Lower and Upper Houses of Victoria in May 2000
Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria was formed in December 2000
Key role of Federation of Chinese Medicine and
Acupuncture Societies of Australia Ltd. (FCMA)

7. Three stages in the legislation in Victoria
Stage 1: Review of Chinese Medicine 1995 
Review Committee established by Victoria government on 17th August 1995
Review and research report completed 18th November Victorian Health Department Official Announcement took place at the Australian Chinese Museum. Dr.Buchan, Dr. Mayer, Dr. Alan Bensoussan and myself were asked by the government to meet with the public and media for questions.
Stage 2: Public consultation
Discussion papers issued by Dept of Human Services, feedback received key stakeholders

8. Stage 3: Implementation 1998-2000
Department of Human Services of Victoria drafted the Chinese Medicine Registration Bill in 1998.
6th August 1998: the process of Registration of Chinese Medicine announced by the Hon. Mr. Jeff Kennett, the Premier of Victoria.
9th May 2000: Chinese Medicine Registration Bill passed in Victorian Parliament.
16th May 2000: Governor of Victoria signed the related documents, the Chinese Medicine Registration Bill then became the Chinese Medicine Registration Act 2000.
December 2000 Victorian government gave a grant of $100,000 to establish the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria

9. CM development after introduction of statutory regulation
Protection of title, rather than protection of practice
Chinese Medicine developed in a healthy direction with increased legitimation in the community.
Since the CMR Act 2000 came into effect, the CMRB Victoria has received 1300 applications, 830 successfully registered, about 130 were rejected.
Practitioner misdemeanours: 53 found guilty of professional misconduct by the Board, reasons include using testimonials; clinical issues; receipting practices, fraud with respect to qualifications; holding out incorrect title; sexual misconduct and others

10. Powers of the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria
Setting professional standards and guidelines for practitioners
Receive and investigate complaints by the public
Registering qualified Chinese Herbal Practitioners
and Acupuncturists and Chinese Herbal Medicine Dispensers
Reviewing and approving Chinese Medicine
education curricula
Setting and conducting examinations for the purposes of registration
When necessary, work with police with respect to potential serious offences

11. National Registration of Chinese Medicine
FCMA has advocated for national registration of Chinese Medicine since the successful implementation of statutory regulation in Victoria
2005: Commonwealth and state governments agreed to set up a National Registration and Accreditation scheme for all regulated health professions (including medical doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses etc…). CM only partially regulated so not considered for inclusion at the time.
2005: Victorian government also follow the Commonwealth to set up Health Practitioner Regulation Scheme - Health Professional Registration Act 2005 published (all regulated professions under the one Act).

12. 2007: FCMA had written many letters to the Prime Minister's Office and different related Departments strongly arguing for inclusion of CM in the National Scheme.
26th March, 2008 Council of Australian Governments agreed that from I July 2010 all 9 registered health professions will be regulated through the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Professions. Inclusion of partially regulated professions such as Chinese medicine was still under consideration.
14th July, 2008: Letter from Ms Megan Cahill, Chair of Health Workforce Principle Committee, Department of Health of Victoria, inviting FCMA to make a submission for inclusion of Chinese medicine in the national Scheme.

13. 21st Sept, 2008: FCMA made submission the Commonwealth government requested inclusion of Chinese Medicine in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Professions.
14th Feb, 2009: FCMA wrote to all State and Territory Ministers for Health asking for their support to include Chinese Medicine in the Scheme.
28th April, 2009: Premier of Victoria replied with a letter to support and announced that some related procedures would commence from July 2010.
8th May, 2009: FCMA received a letter from Commonwealth government announcing that on 1st July 2012 Chinese Medicine will be registered nationally.

14. Research in Chinese Medicine needs a new direction
Chinese Medicine researchers have conducted much Chinese Medicine research but unfortunately there is no significant break-through yet! Reasons:
Greater focus of Chinese Medicine pharmaceutical firms on traditional formulae rather than development of new products.
Problems with research methodology and recognition in western countries.

15. Research cont... Few suggestions：
1. Chinese Medicine has very good results in addressing some viruses.
Need to emphasise basic principles of Chinese Medicine and focus on areas where western medicine is not so successful e.g.. CHM for cold virus and flu.
The SARS experience demonstrated that CM had much to offer
Many traditional formulae that work extremely well to fight cold and flu viruses, however scientific evidence is required - the evidence-based medicine approach is what is accepted in western countries

16. 2. CM can address conditions where western medicine does not have perfect solutions eg. although Western Medicine can control cholesterol quickly, there are undesirable and serious side effects.
3. Many CHMs can contribute a great deal but there is a lack good research as evidence.
4. Chinese Medicine originated in China. It is hoped that the Chinese government will strongly support the continued development of Chinese medicine research as this is vital for continued development of the profession worldwide.

17. THANK YOU 17

18. References:
Bensoussan A, Myers S P (1996), Towards a Safer Choice, The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Australia, University of Western Sydney, Macarthur.
Chinese Medicine Registration Act Available at URL (accessed 8 March 2007)
Maclennan AH, Wilson DH, Taylor AW. The escalating cost and prevalence of alternative medicine medicine. Preventive Medicine 2002; 35:
Tzi Chiang,PhD. Kylie O’Brien, PhD. (2007)Integration of Chinese medicine into a western healthcare system: the Australian experience
The history of Chinese medicine regulation in Victoria and its role in integration of Chinese medicine in the Australian healthcare system .