May 21, 2008

Is access to natural health products at risk for Canadians? Learn more about Bill C-51 here, and send the attached letter to your MP.

Bill C-51 is a new piece of legislation being introduced which may have far-reaching effects for our patients and the general public. Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are regulated by province, and here in Ontario we are being recognized as primary care doctors with the passing of Bill 171. This bill assured NDs that our current scope of practice and would be protected. So what happens when a new bill at a federal level is introduced, which could restrict us from prescribing or compounding the medicines that we are allowed to use provincially?

The safety of the public is indeed important, and the priority of Naturopathic Doctors. This is exactly why regulated substances should be administered by trained healthcare providers - especially NDs. The non-inclusion of this point in Bill C-51 is what has many NDs and other stakeholders up in arms. Additionally, the new Bill doesn’t seem to take into account that since 2004 the government has been actively regulating natural health products under the NHPA (Natural Health Products Act), which ND’s played (and continue to play) a major role in. While Health Minister Tony Clement has said that these products will continue to be regulated by the NHPA, the wording of Bill C-51 is very broad and vague, leaving it open to interpretation, and the possibility that it may supercede NHPA regulations which were so long in the making.

We are asking that the government clarify their position and provide clear and transparent language in the Bill, and to protect both ND’s scope of practice, as well as the public’s choice in healthcare. Attached below is a template letter (prepared by the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors) that may be used by patients or the general public to contact their MPs and express their concerns. To find the contact information for your MP go to www.elections.ca. Click on the link below to access the template letter.

sample-letter-for-patients-on-bill-c

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