A University of Queensland researcher is calling for the registration of complementary medicine therapists to make it safer to consult a naturopath.
Mr Jon Wardle, a research scholar in the area of complementary therapy and a qualified naturopath with UQ's School of Population Health, said registration is a long overdue idea.
“One in six people use complementary therapists as their primary healthcare practitioner and yet currently anyone can hang up a shingle and begin practicing without any qualifications at all. This is a major public health issue,” Mr Wardle said.
Mr Wardle, is part of a steering committee representing key complementary medicine stakeholder groups which has announced plans to establish a national register of naturopaths and herbalists.
“While four-year degrees are required for some naturopathy courses and many practitioners do fantastic work, the current system is practically unregulated and allows dodgy practitioners to continue with impunity,” he said.
“Industry associations generally do a good job, but some abuse the system and others have drastic conflicts of interest or are unable to hold practitioners accountable for unethical behavior.”
Head of UQ’s School of Medicine, Professor David Wilkinson supported the registration plans.
“It is appropriate that there is increased regulation of complementary medicine practice to ensure educational and ethical standards of practice,” Professor Wilkinson said.
Mr Wardle said the industry had moved to establish the register because naturopaths and herbalist were not part of a federal government registration process currently being rolled out for other health professions. The aim of the practitioner-initiated register is to offer public protection until the government provided statutory regulations.
Mr Wardle said the Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists will enable the checking of the practitioners qualifications and will be available by mid-2010.
Media: Faculty Communications Manager, Marlene McKendry (0401 996 847).
