Crackdown on complementary medicine (U.K.)

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Crackdown on complementary medicine (U.K.)

22/12/2004

 

Complementary and alternative medicines are to be regulated more

tightly under government plans announced today.

 

Extra funding of £900,000 has been made available to develop new

regulatory systems for alternative health care providers.

 

The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health will oversee

the regulatory development process. To start with, this will be a

voluntary self-regulation scheme and is likely to cover practitioners

of homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology.

 

Proposals for a separate regulatory scheme covering more invasive

practise, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, are to be published

in early 2005.

 

In addition, there is to be a new Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee

under the auspices of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory

Agency (MHRA).

 

This will look at both unlicensed and registered products and provide

safety and quality advice to the government and the MHRA. A

consultation on its remit and responsibilities will run in early 2005.

 

Announcing the new drive, health minister Lord Warner said: " Thousands

of people use complementary healthcare and it's important that

patients are confident that these services are provided by qualified

and competent practitioners.

 

" This extra funding will mean the Foundation can continue its work of

supporting practitioners in self-regulation. This work, combined with

a brand new committee of experts to advise on the safety and quality

of herbal remedies, is another step towards improving the safety and

quality standards in complementary medicine. "

 

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