Posted April 2005 Patient Perspectives Tijuana Cancer Clinics in the Post-NAFTA Era Ralph W. Moss, PhD Cancer Communications, Inc, PO Box 1076, Lemont, PA 16851. questions@cancerdecisions.com This article contains observations and historical considerations on cancer and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the Tijuana, Mexico, area. There are approximately 2 dozen such clinics in Tijuana, some of which have been treating international cancer patients since 1963. Among the first clinics to be established were the Bio-Medical Center (Hoxsey therapy), Oasis of Hope (a Laetrile-oriented clinic), and a series of clinics affiliated with the Gerson diet therapy. These original clinics were established mainly by American citizens in response to increased regulation of nonstandard therapies in the United States, particularly after passage of the Kefauver-Harris Amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act in 1962. In the 1970s, the Tijuana clinics proliferated with the upsurge of interest in Laetrile (amygdalin). By 1978, 70,000 US cancer patients had taken Laetrile for cancer treatment, and many of those had gone to Tijuana to receive it. The popularity of the Tijuana clinics peaked in the mid-1980s. Although many new clinics opened after then, a dozen have folded in the past 10 years alone. The turning point for the clinics came with passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which facilitated greater cooperation among the antifraud authorities of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. In 1994, the tripartite members of NAFTA formed the Mexico-United States-Canada Health Fraud Work Group, or MUCH, whose brief is to strengthen the 3 countries’ ability to prevent cross-border health fraud. Under the auspices of MUCH and its members, regulatory crackdowns began in earnest early in 2001. The clinics were also badly affected by the general downturn in travel after 9/11. If these trends continue, many Tijuana clinics are unlikely to survive. Some suggestions are made for how the Tijuana clinics could be reorganized and reformed to minimize the likelihood of governmental actions and to maximize public support. Such reforms center on 5 main areas: (1) research, (2) physical plant, (3) finances, (4) ethics, and (5) education. Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 4, No. 1, 65-86 (2005) DOI: 10.1177/1534735404273918 LINK In Mexico since 1980, CHIPSA began with pure Gerson diet therapy and later added additional modalities, especially some learned from Dr. Joseph Issels, who consulted with CHIPSA during his last years. CHIPSA treats cancer and all other degenerative diseases. LINK to (Formerly Contreras) clinic, has Issel's therapies LINK: Using some interesting experimental approaches Dr.Kurt Donsbach, offers many nutritional therapies Comprehensive immunology From information they provided various therapies available 4/00 Patient perspective and LINK Melinda Wiman, www.cancure.org Varous links LINK to Mexican Hospital offering Gerson Therapy Gerson Institute LINK to clinic in Tijuana, MX LINK to clinic Ixtapa, Mexico, affiliated with Villa Natura Clinic LINK to clinic in Ixtapa, Mexico "Our treatment options are personalized, & are dependent on each patient’s circumstances, including age, type & progression of cancer, & overall general health. Most Institute patients stay from four to five weeks. We ask that you bring a support companion". Dr. Dan Rogers was formerly the head of CHIPSA & LINK to current clinic Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.