Acupuncturists to Self-Regulate

Members of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) have voted for statutory regulation. 90% of members backed the move at their annual meeting.

Under the proposal, Acupuncturists will be self-regulated, just as the medical profession is regulated by the General Medical Council.

The move is part of a broader recommendation to have alternative therapies across the board self-regulated. Osteopaths and Chiropractors already have their own governing bodies.

The BAcC currently recognises 5-6,000 practitioners in the UK. Members can join a register provided they hold recognised, adequate qualifications. The organisation believes a further 3-4,000 therapists in the UK are practising without BAcC membership.

Self-regulation is aimed at protecting the public from unscrupulous and under-qualified practitioners. A spokesman from the British Medical Association commented, "We support statutory regulation of acupuncture and other alternative therapies".

Edith Maskell, Director of Bromley Health Management notes that Reflexology is next in line to follow the Acupuncturists, Osteopaths and Chiropractors. Edith represents the Guild of Complementary Practitioners on the Reflexology Forum. The forum was set up in 1999 by the Government, the University of Exeter and the Foundation of Integrated Medicine to pave the way for statutory regulation of Reflexology.

Thursday, 1 November 2001