Compensation scheme for complementary and alternative medicine use in asbestos-related diseases in New South Wales,...

Asbestos use has resulted in a high global incidence rate of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). These diseases require high costs of compensation and medical expense, although definite cures have yet to be found. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used as a means to attenuate symptoms of ARDs. Our objective is to describe the compensation scheme for CAM use for a population with ARDs in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Expenses of CAM have conditionally been compensated by the workers compensation dust-diseases board (DDB) to a population with ARDs. The DDB approves patients` claim for the use of CAM if it is justifiable and related to compensable ARDs. To obtain the DDB`s approval for the CAM cost, a written recommendation letter by the treating medical doctors is required that justifies the use of CAM and that this option does not pose any adverse effects on the compensated patients.

The use of CAM in a subject with ARDs does not have significant benefits of overall survival but does somewhat improve quality of life. However, awareness of the provisions of the compensation scheme for CAM use in a population with ARDs should be carefully informed and also emphasized any side effects on progress of ARDs.