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14/02/2005
Bogus alternative therapists targeted in government crackdown
The Department of Health is set to introduce a series of proposals targeting underqualified acupuncturists and herbal medicine practitioners.
The decision follows the publication of a consultation paper - 'Regulation of herbal medicine and acupunture' – which, the government said, received support from 98.5% of those who responded to the consultation.
The report includes plans to introduce a UK-wide system of statutory regulation for both industries, as well as the introduction of a register for qualified and competent acupuncturists and herbal medicine pracititioners, which will grant them permission to use a specific restricted title.
Practitioners of other complementary healthcare, such as homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology, will not be covered by these plans.
Commenting on the new proposals, Health Minister, Lord Warner said: "The existing legislation in this area is weak. It fails to provide patients and the public with adequate protection and does not offer a guide as to the competence of the practitioner. The majority of responses to the consultation indicated strong support for our plans to improve patient and public protection by introducing statutory regulation, which will set clear standards of training and competence for practitioners."
The new proposals were welcomed by the British Acupunture Council. Chief Executive Officer, Mike O'Farrell, said they would "give members of the public the resassurance they need to experience the benefits that acupuncture and herbal medicine can offer."
Michael Fox, Chief Executive of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, said that the plan was "a major step forward for the regulation of complementary healthcare."
Respondents to the consultation paper included practitioners of acupunture, herbal medicine and traditional chinese medicine, as well as NHS bodies, patient and consumer organisations and the Royal Colleges. Ministers will now consider the responses to the consultation paper before a draft order is issued later this year, along with more detailed proposals, which will be published for further consideration.
It is estimated that there are over 4,000 practising acupuncturists and herbalists in the UK.
(KmcA)
The decision follows the publication of a consultation paper - 'Regulation of herbal medicine and acupunture' – which, the government said, received support from 98.5% of those who responded to the consultation.
The report includes plans to introduce a UK-wide system of statutory regulation for both industries, as well as the introduction of a register for qualified and competent acupuncturists and herbal medicine pracititioners, which will grant them permission to use a specific restricted title.
Practitioners of other complementary healthcare, such as homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology, will not be covered by these plans.
Commenting on the new proposals, Health Minister, Lord Warner said: "The existing legislation in this area is weak. It fails to provide patients and the public with adequate protection and does not offer a guide as to the competence of the practitioner. The majority of responses to the consultation indicated strong support for our plans to improve patient and public protection by introducing statutory regulation, which will set clear standards of training and competence for practitioners."
The new proposals were welcomed by the British Acupunture Council. Chief Executive Officer, Mike O'Farrell, said they would "give members of the public the resassurance they need to experience the benefits that acupuncture and herbal medicine can offer."
Michael Fox, Chief Executive of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, said that the plan was "a major step forward for the regulation of complementary healthcare."
Respondents to the consultation paper included practitioners of acupunture, herbal medicine and traditional chinese medicine, as well as NHS bodies, patient and consumer organisations and the Royal Colleges. Ministers will now consider the responses to the consultation paper before a draft order is issued later this year, along with more detailed proposals, which will be published for further consideration.
It is estimated that there are over 4,000 practising acupuncturists and herbalists in the UK.
(KmcA)
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