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              years/1997/feb/11/hansard/reps&art=17&nongraphic=1&nontable=1



AUSTRALIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HANSARD FOR 11TH FEBRUARY 1997

                      QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
                      CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

                   THIS DOCUMENT HAS DRAFT STATUS


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Mrs SULLIVAN--My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and
Family Services. Is the minister aware of concerns that the National
Health and Medical Research Council has not funded projects
researching chronic fatigue syndrome from its medical research funds?
Is he also aware of reports that one particular research project at
the University of Newcastle may have developed a diagnostic test for
CFS in spite of this lack of support? Will the minister ask the NHMRC
to amend its Classification of Disciplines to allow expert assessment
of CFS related projects? Will he also ensure that the NHMRC allocates
funds for CFS research projects?



Dr WOOLDRIDGE--I thank the honourable member for her question. I note
her interest in this and the representations she has made to me on the
issue. I am aware that chronic fatigue syndrome has not been
specifically funded for research grants under the NHMRC, and I am
aware of the one particular project that she raises. I would say to
her in reply that the National Health and Medical Research Council
funds research on the basis of peer reviewed excellence and I would
not want to see that changed. I certainly would not want to see a
situation where research was funded on the basis of whoever had access
to the minister or the minister's ear rather than what was the view of
the scientific community.

That said, I do accept that the Classification of Disciplines is an
area that can influence the peer review process. The NHMRC has
received a request and is considering it for a special code for CFS.
In the end, that is its decision.

As to whether I will ensure the NHMRC provides funds for CFS, I cannot
do this specifically. But I can say that there is a new subcommittee
of the NHMRC, which will be the Strategic Research Development
Committee, and its purpose will be to advise on the need for targeted
research into different health issues. This is something that it could
properly address.

I understand the concern that people with CFS have. I believe it is a
genuine condition. It is made all the more difficult by the
controversy that exists in the medical profession towards it. One
thing government has done is contribute money to the Royal
Australasian College of Physicians to develop guidelines into the most
cost-effective treatments and the most clinically relevant methods of
diagnosing and treating CFS. Hopefully, if we can get some consensus
on this, it will make it easier for people suffering to be accepted by
the broader medical profession.

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