Guidance for establishing an integrative oncology service in the Australian healthcare setting—a discussion paper

There is an obvious mismatch between the high reported rates of use of traditional and complementary medicines (TCM) by Australian cancer patients and cancer survivors and the low numbers of Australian cancer services integrating TCM. An estimated 65% of Australian cancer patients use at least one form of TCM. Over half use TCM in conjunction with conventional cancer therapy. Yet, less than 20% of Australian hospital cancer care facilities provide access to TCM. This compares to around 70% of UK cancer care facilities offering at least one TCM therapy. Barriers to developing integrative oncology services include determining an appropriate service model and revenue structure; concerns with ethical and legal issues such as regulations and credentialing; and inadequate high-quality scientific evidence demonstrating safety and effectiveness, including concerns about the possibility of adversely affecting chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. This paper aims to provide general guidance and practical strategies for those seeking to develop integrative oncology services in Australian cancer care facilities.