ADVANCED MEDICAL INSTITUTE

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:52): Today I would like to raise concerns that I have, first of all, as a television watcher but, more seriously, with respect to complaints that I have received from constituents. My concerns are centred around an organisation called the Advanced Medical Institute. This organisation has a number of advertisements on television (particularly SBS, and I think late night television on a commercial station), which claim that it is able to provide treatments for men with erectile dysfunction. It does not say this in the advertisements but, after conducting investigations, I am told that AMI has had a number of complaints made about it because it provides and prescribes drugs over the telephone without meeting the people who have rung up for assistance.

Obviously, this is a very serious issue. Some of the men to whom I have spoken have complained that they have signed a contract for a 12 month supply of drugs, sometimes at a cost of between $2,000 and $3,500 a year. When the drugs have not worked they have complained to the Advanced Medical Institute and have been advised that they have a contract and will have to pay.

I think the advertisements are in bad taste, and I always switch channels when they come on. I think it is a really important issue, but I dislike the way in which it is portrayed. Now I have noticed that ads are talking about assisting women with sexual dysfunction. Having received information via constituents about what is being offered, I was very surprised to learn that pharmaceutical treatments were being offered, once again over the telephone, and these women were told that no doctor was employed by AMI in Adelaide and therefore they had to consult one of the AMI doctors based interstate via the telephone. The consultations occurred and each of the women to whom I spoke signed up for a 12 month contract, at $4,000 per contract, with a supply of treatments for sexual dysfunction.

Having had the opportunity to see the ads, I can understand why a number of people, young women in particular, who are feeling insecure about their sex life or potential sex life, could be taken in by these particular ads, because, quite frankly, to begin with, I did not understand why women would contact AMI. The ads probably make women feel quite insecure about their sexuality and also their sex lives in general.

The women involved in this process were supplied with apomorphine lozenges and also glycerol trinitrate transdermal gel, and obviously were promised that these different chemicals would assist their sex life. The main concerns I have are that pharmaceutical products are being supplied to men and women based on telephone consultation and I am not sure whether any of these consultations or services are available under Medicare or any medical benefits services. This is a question that I will be taking up with the federal minister. I am really concerned that such services do exist and that people are reporting that the services do not assist them in the problems that they have identified with AMI. We need to warn our constituents to be very careful about this particular product. As I said, I will be taking this up with the federal minister to ensure that there is some action.