Regulatory body proposed for acupuncturists and herbalists
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《英国医生杂志》
The United Kingdom could have its own regulatory body for acupuncturists and herbal medicine practitioners in the next two years if new government proposals outlined last week are agreed.
The move was prompted by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, which in November 2000 recommended statutory regulation for acupuncturists and herbal medicine practitioners, an estimated 4000 of whom are not regulated by other bodies.
The proposals, which are out for consultation until 7 June, include the establishment of a complementary and alternative medicine council, covering all four countries in the United Kingdom. Practitioners would have to register with the council to continue treating patients. Unregistered practitioners calling themselves an acupuncturist or herbal medicines practitioner would be fined ￡5000 ($9260; �7490).
However, the government does not favour dual registration for healthcare professionals already regulated by other statutory bodies, because of the potential for confusion over accountability. Instead, it favours closer cooperation and liaison among the various bodies.
The new council would set required standards of training and continuing professional development. And it would have powers to investigate complaints and strike practitioners off the register, if warranted. Its chairperson would be a lay person, appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission.
Announcing the proposals, health minister John Hutton said the proposals would "reassure patients and the public that herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners are not only suitably qualified, but also competent and up to date with developments in practice."
The government is also consulting on reform of section 12 (1) of the Medicines Act 1968, which governs the supply of unlicensed herbal remedies made up to meet the needs of individual patients.
It is thought that homoeopaths may now also opt for statutory regulation. But Professor Michael Pittilo, who chaired the Herbal Medicines Regulatory Working Group, believes that voluntary self regulation will be sufficient for other complementary therapies such as aromatherapy and reflexology.
But he emphasised: "It is really important that practitioners have a basic level of training to understand the limits of their competence." He predicted that the new council could be up and running by 2006.
"The public want , and the government is committed to offering patients choice," said Dr Mike Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance. He described the proposals as a "major step forward" for integrated healthcare. Regulation would greatly help NHS frontline staff and primary care trust commissioners, he said.
A 1998 survey from the University of Sheffield indicates that one in 10 adults in the United Kingdom had visited a practitioner of complementary medicine in the preceding year. The total market is estimated to be worth ￡1.6bn a year.(London Caroline White)
The move was prompted by the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, which in November 2000 recommended statutory regulation for acupuncturists and herbal medicine practitioners, an estimated 4000 of whom are not regulated by other bodies.
The proposals, which are out for consultation until 7 June, include the establishment of a complementary and alternative medicine council, covering all four countries in the United Kingdom. Practitioners would have to register with the council to continue treating patients. Unregistered practitioners calling themselves an acupuncturist or herbal medicines practitioner would be fined ￡5000 ($9260; �7490).
However, the government does not favour dual registration for healthcare professionals already regulated by other statutory bodies, because of the potential for confusion over accountability. Instead, it favours closer cooperation and liaison among the various bodies.
The new council would set required standards of training and continuing professional development. And it would have powers to investigate complaints and strike practitioners off the register, if warranted. Its chairperson would be a lay person, appointed by the NHS Appointments Commission.
Announcing the proposals, health minister John Hutton said the proposals would "reassure patients and the public that herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners are not only suitably qualified, but also competent and up to date with developments in practice."
The government is also consulting on reform of section 12 (1) of the Medicines Act 1968, which governs the supply of unlicensed herbal remedies made up to meet the needs of individual patients.
It is thought that homoeopaths may now also opt for statutory regulation. But Professor Michael Pittilo, who chaired the Herbal Medicines Regulatory Working Group, believes that voluntary self regulation will be sufficient for other complementary therapies such as aromatherapy and reflexology.
But he emphasised: "It is really important that practitioners have a basic level of training to understand the limits of their competence." He predicted that the new council could be up and running by 2006.
"The public want , and the government is committed to offering patients choice," said Dr Mike Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance. He described the proposals as a "major step forward" for integrated healthcare. Regulation would greatly help NHS frontline staff and primary care trust commissioners, he said.
A 1998 survey from the University of Sheffield indicates that one in 10 adults in the United Kingdom had visited a practitioner of complementary medicine in the preceding year. The total market is estimated to be worth ￡1.6bn a year.(London Caroline White)