Regulation of herbal medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine will be considered by a public consultation that has been launched by the Department of Health.
Practitioners of alternative therapies are currently subject to no statutory regulation, an option the consultation will consider applying across the UK.
Health minister Ann Keen said: “This UK-wide consultation will help us find the best and most appropriate ways of ensuring that those who choose to receive acupuncture, herbal medicine and traditional Chinese medicine can be reassured that those practitioners meet professional standards of care and safety.”
The consultation has invited responses, which it will consider in its deliberations on whether there is any risk of harm to patients from the treatments. If they decide there is a risk, the best option for reducing it will be considered, with statutory regulation one available option.
Medical director for the Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health Dr Michael Dixon said: “There is good evidence for herbal medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine in the treatment of some conditions but, as in all healthcare, these therapies require properly trained practitioners.”
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