Dear Friends & Supporters of Integrative Medicine,

No doubt you have seen the recent campaign headed by Prof John Dwyer calling for universities to stop education in the areas of complementary medicine. A new group called ‘Friends of Science in Medicine’ has formed to lobby against universities including complementary medicine in their curriculum. They also want the government to stop subsidising complementary medicine through the private health insurance rebate, even though 50% of the public see a complementary medicine practitioner and 70% use natural supplements!

The weekend Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘The Question’ are running a poll: ‘Should universities teach alternative medicine?’ It appears the sceptics and ‘Friends of Science’ have mobilized themselves well, as the poll is currently running heavily in favour against education of Complementary Medicine.

Please register your vote and encourage your friends and colleagues in supporting the education of evidence-based complementary medicine.

Click Link below:

SMH: Should universities teach alternative medicine? The Question February 4, 2012. Opinion
(scroll down to read responses in the affirmative by surgeon Valerie Malka & Professor Alan Bensoussan, Director of the centre for complementary medicine research, University of Western Sydney.)

You can also listen to Prof Kerryn Phelps, President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine association who issued a strong rebuttal. Listen to the ABC Interview were Fran Kelly speaks with Phelps and Dwyer on the issue here.

Thank you,

National Institute of Integrative Medicine