Sounds like this place and, believe me, it's no fun.
Medicines debate about safety versus freedom of choice
5:00AM Tuesday May 22, 2007
By Martin Johnston
If the new monitoring agency is set up, buying your favourite jar of cream might no longer be possible. Photo / Getty Images
From herbal medicines to Herceptin, from condoms to heart valves, a controversial regulatory proposal to hook up with Australia would cast a large net over New Zealand health products, supplements and medicines.
Government agencies on both sides of the Tasman have been working for more than a decade on creating a transtasman agency to regulate medicines, medical devices and complementary medicines.
Since details emerged in 2002, the scheme has been attacked, politically and now in a series of protest marches - yet State Services Minister Annette King is pushing ahead, even if Labour is short of support in the House.
Supporters say the proposal will improve public safety; detractors say it will force hundreds of products off shelves, leaving New Zealanders with less choice, destroying jobs and closing businesses. Claim and counter-claim are flying, ahead of a likely parliamentary show-down within weeks.
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