The White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy (WHCCAMP) released its final report to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson at the end of March, calling on the federal government to establish and sufficiently fund a permanent office within HHS for scientific research, education, and public policy on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the US.
The 20-member Commission, established by former President Clinton in 2000, held numerous “Town Meetings,” interim public hearings, and closed panel discussions to determine current utilization patterns, prioritize research needs, identify safety issues, and develop policy to increase the impact of holistic and preventive medicine on public health. Led by Dr. James Gordon, Director of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, the commissioners included holistically minded MDs, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, and specialists in botanical medicine, massage/bodywork, traditional Chinese medicine, and representatives of other natural healing systems.
In addition to creation of a permanent high-level federal office, the WHCCAMP report calls for:
- Introduction of a “wholeness orientation” and a health promotion/disease prevention mindset into all aspects of health care, as well as recognition of the need for individualized approaches and an individual’s right to free choice in health care.
- A coordinated, collaborative research agenda to determine efficacy and safety of commonly used modalities. This includes specific well-funded efforts at evaluating dietary supplement ingredients. While research in natural medicine must be rigorous and scientifically sound, it must also be in accord with real-world practice patterns and respectful of the theory underlying non-allopathic modalities. Researchers and clinicians interested in CAM should in no way face sanctions or discriminatory action solely on the basis of these interests.
- Creation of core curriculum material on CAM for medical schools and health professional training programs, as well as postgraduate and continuing education. Likewise, training programs for practitioners of holistic modalities should include basic biomedical science. Federal, state, and private funding should be increased for program development of accredited CAM and conventional institutions.
- Establishment of a federally funded CAM public information service, and creation of voluntary standards for public information on holistic medicine, especially online content.
- Rapid publication of Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines for supplement production, and adequate funding for FDA and FTC enforcement of existing regulations on supplement manufacture, marketing, and importation.
- Requirements that supplement manufacturers register their products and suppliers with the FDA, monitor and record all adverse events, and report these to the FDA.
- Implementation of state licensure for holistic practices and disciplines currently not recognized under existing state licensure laws. This is predicated on definition of appropriate scope of practice, accreditation of training programs and development of systems of accountability.
- Inclusion of medical systems or health interventions scientifically proven safe and effective in health plan benefits.
Check the upcoming June issue of Holistic Primary Care for an in-depth analysis of the WHCCAMP report and commentary from within and outside the committee regarding its potential impact on health care in the US.
