September 22, 2003 – The British government intends to clean up the world of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) in the country, among other things by requiring all therapists to register with a new organization.
London believes the new initiative will boost public confidence in MACs, including by disabling charlatans.
From now on, all acupuncturists, massage therapists, naturopaths and other alternative practitioners in the country will have to register with a new government agency, which will ensure that all have received minimum standard training and which will see to discipline offenders. These therapists will also have to comply with a new code of conduct, which will prohibit them in particular from treating their patients beyond their threshold of competence.
In addition, the new regulations will remove certain natural health products from shelves and only make them available through a licensed therapist. Currently, says the British Minister of Health, “anyone with a blender” can call himself a herbalist, which he finds unacceptable.
The alternative therapy market is valued at around US $ 2.6 billion annually in the UK.
This initiative comes as the European Union begins to look into the issue, with the aim of harmonizing the various national laws in this area.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to UPI; September 20, 2003.
