As well as threatening our health, pesticides threaten the stability of our ecosystems by destroying insects and soil organisms that are harmless or even beneficial, and damaging the ecology of the soil. Many countries overseas have comprehensive pesticide reduction strategies in place to reduce the amount of pesticides that are used in agriculture. We see the establishment of this committee as the first, modest step towards recognising properly registered complementary therapists and integrating them over time into the health system. Consumer demand for complementary healthcare is growing rapidly with more than a quarter of the population using complementary therapies. We need to ensure that consumers using complementary therapies are properly protected and that there is ongoing research into the safety and efficacy of complementary healthcare.
Complementary healthcare is low tech and cost effective.
In the long term recognition and integration of complementary healthcare will help improve the health of New Zealanders and reduce our dependence on prescription drugs, including antibiotics, and shift our emphasis towards preventing rather than just treating illness.