REGULATION REPORT
Regulation Update
Christine Pope | B . Comm , B Health Science ( Comp Med ), Adv Dip Naturopathy , Adv Dip Nutritional Medicine , Adv Dip Homeopathy
After 18 months of ever-changing restrictions on the practice of natural medicine , the last few months have seen vaccine mandates rolled out across some states which affect those practitioners who are defined as healthcare workers . The advocacy by ATMS has been focussed on maintaining members ' right to work through numerous rounds of lockdowns and restrictions . We have advocated for practitioners to be able to continue working or to return to work as soon as possible .
ATMS has adopted a pro-choice policy and on that basis it will continue to advocate for ATMS members affected by mandates to be able to return to work as soon as possible .
Over the past few weeks we have been able to obtain exemptions for telehealth in Queensland and more recently for NSW . Exempting telehealth enables ingestive practitioners to operate remotely until the pandemic mandates are finalised , but it does not provide a viable option for bodyworkers .
The Board is also reviewing other options for vaccination mandates on behalf of members and is making submissions to the relevant health ministers in those states currently mandating vaccination for natural medicine practitioners . We are requesting that the sector is exempted on the basis that it is suffering from workplace shortages , that it is low risk and that an acceptable way of monitoring in the current environment could be the use of regular Rapid Antigen Tests .
During lockdowns practitioners were operating in clinical settings with the appropriate COVID safe practices in place . These included masking , provision of hand sanitisers , distancing ( where possible ), QR codes and check-ins , regular cleaning , prescreening , improved ventilation and where accessible HEPA filters . There were no significant outbreaks in the sector during that period . Practitioners are trained in safe practices and capable of operating safely .
The clinical settings for most natural medicine practices are typically small and low volume . Practitioners are usually operating in individual appointment environments in a one-on-one setting , a setting that is lower than permitted under current directions . Practitioners who have chosen not to be vaccinated could use a Rapid Antigen Test on a weekly basis ( or more frequently if symptomatic ) to manage this risk in the same way as it is currently being managed in schools in NSW and Victoria .
ATMS is also supporting the Restore Our Rebates campaign that is currently being undertaken by the Your Health Your Choice group . Members are encouraged to submit a letter detailing their concerns or share the materials on social media . This campaign is well timed in the lead up to the next Federal Election and 12 ATMS modalities are currently affected by the removal of rebates . ATMS is working collaboratively with a number of associations and suppliers who are supporting this campaign which will ensure the messages are amplified to a broader audience .
The Board had a specific meeting on the subject of mandates in mid-December . The first stage of this strategy involved encouraging members to write to the health minister and their local member of Parliament to advise of their concerns about mandates . NSW members were provided with template letters in mid- December as we had been advised that further consultation was to be undertaken . We are working on similar letters which will be provided to Queensland members shortly . The issues are different in that jurisdiction as the mandates were already in place and our advocacy will be focussed on calling for an end date to current mandates .
38 | vol28 | no1 | JATMS