Regulation of Complementary Medicine

The ICNM overview on the process of Regulation
On 21 November 2000 the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology published a report of its enquiry into complementary and alternative medicine (UK parliament Science and Technology Sixth Report). In the summary to the sixth report the committee identifies the issues that prompted that inquiry: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread and increasing across the world. Therefore this raises significant issues of public health such as whether good structures of regulation to protect the public are in place, whether an evidence base has been accumulated and research is being carried out; whether there are adequate information sources on the subject; whether the practitioner's training is adequate and what the prospects are for NHS provision of these treatments.

It is acknowledged by most that CAM includes a wide and disparate range of therapies. The Sixth Report separates this complex range of disciplines into three groups. Group 1 includes those disciplines that have a well-developed process of voluntary self-regulation. Some, Chiropractic and Osteopathy have already achieved statutory regulation, while others, the Sixth Report asserts are now recommended to move to statutory regulation and include Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture.

The Sixth Report categorises Group 1 as 'professionally organised alternative therapies' in comparison to Group 2 that 'contains therapies that most clearly complement conventional medicine'. Group 2 therapies include Aromatherapy, Alexander Technique, bodywork therapies, massage, counselling, stress therapy, hypnotherapy, reflexology, meditation and healing. The Sixth Report distinguishes alternative medicine from complementary medicine primarily on the basis that alternative therapies purport to offer an alternative system of diagnosis and treatment to conventional medicine, whilst complementary therapies purport not to embrace diagnostic skills and are clearly seen to complement mainstream medical practice. Group 3 includes those alternative therapies for which, the Sixth Report claims there is no convincing research-based evidence for efficacy and in includes 3a, traditional systems of health care such as Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine as well as, 3b, other alternative disciplines like crystal therapy and dowsing.

The Sixth Report makes clear that the therapies included in each of the three groups are not intended to be all-inclusive but to provide a representative selection of the main types of therapy considered in the report. (Sixth Report summary paragraph 1)

If the principle purpose of regulation is to protect the public, as the Sixth Report suggests, this will be achieved by agreeing a minimum standard of competence to practice. This is achieved by the creation and adherence to the National Occupational Standards and with the voluntary regulation process for Group 2 (namely massage, reflexology and aromatherapy) the professional bodies have been included with the setting of the occupation standard.

Statutory Regulation
The House of Lords reports states:

In Statutory regulation the title of the therapy is protected. Practitioners, by law, have to join the register of the regulatory body otherwise it would be unlawful to practise. Statutory regulation has already been achieved for the disciplines of both osteopathy and chiropractic techniques.

Currently near completion are Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Voluntary Self-Regulation
This is when a single, professional body, which does not have statutory status, registers the therapy. It should, however, mimic the statutory regulatory bodies in its administration but unfortunately cannot protect its title nor enforce practitioners to join.

Most working groups involved with Voluntary Self-Regulation have worked closely with the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health. These include the following:

Whilst the Aromatherapy Council has been active since 1 December 2006, other working groups are taking a little longer and are still in formation. It is possible, however, that the current developments in Regulation may move us more swiftly towards an integrated approach which can be of benefit to both Practitioners and the public.

The ICNM is actively involved with the regulatory process and provides support for our members and the public in agreeing standards. We have always believed in 'Best practice' and whilst the occupation practice is aimed at 'Safe and competent practice' we still recognise that there is opportunity to consider levels of competence and therefore still have different categories of recognition of such on the British Register of Complementary Practitioners.

Click here to go to the House of Lords Report >

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