In 1986 the Fertility Society of Australia developed a series of standards as a guide to the code of practice of IVF and related technologies. The Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC) was formed to administer these guidelines and to inspect clinics. The committee consists of a panel of suitably qualified people representing all aspects of the treatment process. They are an infertility specialist, scientist, counsellor, nurse coordinator and consumer representative. It is a unique feature of this medical specialty that the professionals involved have agreed to be open to consumer scrutiny and input from the beginning. It is very encouraging that the consumer representative is accepted as an equal member of the team. The cooperative relationship that exists between service providers and consumers plays a significant role in the success of self-regulation of ART in Australia. For a list of accredited clinics in Australia and New Zealand click here.
The inclusion of a consumer representative on RTAC, ensures that consumers have access to reliable information about treatment outcomes, possible drug side effects and the quality of service provided by individual clinics. Despite the initial scepticism of the government, RTAC has demonstrated that self regulation can work. Access to government funded drugs used in treatment in Australia is provided only to those clinics which have been accredited by RTAC. The availability of counselling is a requirement of accreditation, as is provision of detailed, written information on treatment, prior to its commencement. To view RTAC guidelines click here.
Clinics must demonstrate compliance with guidelines laid down by the National Health & Medical Research Council, the Australian Health Ethics Committee and a code of practice, together with relevant statutes in some States. To gain approval to conduct research or undertake new treatment with ethical considerations, individual clinics must apply to their local Human Research Ethics Committee. This ensures that the concerns of the community are addressed and that the interests of consumers are protected. In those states with regulatory authorities, their personnel accompany the RTAC team on clinic site visits in order to examine the clinic's state licence renewal. Benefits of self regulation include its flexibility as it is more able to respond to emerging scientific advances and allow for a greater degree of autonomy for consumers in the decision making process.
As an accrediting body RTAC has no formal mechanisms to deal with individual complaints but ACCESS has a Health Care Complaint Procedure Policy document to assist people who may.
ACCESS has five people who share this role, Doreen Burge, Angela Clark, Linda Fiske, Debbie Jeffrey and Jenny Walsh. | 
CLINIC ACCREDITATION
