In October 2018, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport issued its Inquiry Report into Biotoxin-related Illnesses. The Committee reviewed the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of biotoxin-related illnesses and recommended that the Commonwealth Department of Health:
  • Conduct a review into the treatment of patients presenting with complex illnesses that are difficult to diagnose such as biotoxin-related illnesses and those with CIRS-like conditions;
  • Develop clinical guidelines for GPs for the diagnosis, treatment and management of CIRS-­like conditions, in consultation with patient groups, medical practitioners, and health bodies.
We want to congratulate TFOM President; Dr Barry Gilbert for his appointment as a member of the Biotoxin-related Illness Advisory Committee (BIAC) that will consider the outcomes of the aforementioned review as well as guide the development of the clinical guidance to assist GP’s and health professionals in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of these complex illnesses.
We wish you all the best with the new appointment, Barry!