Chinese Medicine Needs Regulation

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

Taken from:

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17192135%255E1702,

00.html

 

TRADITIONAL Chinese medicine should be regulated to protect consumers from

dodgy practitioners, a new report has recommended.

 

The New South Wales Committee on the Health Care Complaints Commission found

many members of the local Chinese community felt they were being " ripped

off " by some practitioners.

 

In the report, tabled in NSW parliament today, the committee recommends a

bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, become the prerequisite for

registration to practise Chinese medicine.

 

 

Practitioners would be registered with a newly-formed NSW Traditional

Board and classified as either acupuncturists, Chinese

herbal medicine practitioners, or Chinese herbal dispensers.

 

 

Practitioners who did not meet the new minimum requirements would have to

complete a two-year university bridging course or examination.

 

A minimum of five years' practical experience would be needed to complete

the course or exam.

 

 

Practitioners who do not have those requirements would be listed with the

board but could not call themselves a " registered practitioner " , the report

recommended.

 

 

" The possible dangers of wrongly applied acupuncture and potential toxicity

of Chinese herbal medicine have been well documented and have led to its

registration in many other jurisdictions, including Victoria, " the report

stated.

 

 

" Only formal registration ensures uniformity of professional standards and

effective disciplinary processes. "

 

 

The report also recommended acupuncturists be regularly inspected by local

councils until the new board had an inspection regime in place.

 

 

The committee heard evidence from eight Sydney councils that high-risk

procedures such as bloodletting were being performed by some practitioners.

 

 

Some councils also had concerns about improper sterilisation procedures,

including reuse of single-use needles.

 

Warm regards,

 

Attilio D'Alberto

Doctor of (Beijing, China)

B.Sc. (Hons) T.C.M., M.A.T.C.M.

Company Director

The Earth Health Clinic

0208 367 8378

enquiries

<http://www.theearthhealthclinic.com/> www.theearthhealthclinic.com