James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in the programme for Government commitment to promote greater regulation of complementary health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26824/08]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in the programme for Government commitment to promote coexistence of complementary and conventional medicine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26825/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

The Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists in 2006 made recommendations on strengthening the regulatory environment for complementary therapists including voluntary self-regulation for the majority of therapists and statutory regulation for Acupuncturists, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners and Herbal practitioners.

To support the development of robust voluntary self-regulation, the Report of the National Working Group outlined guidance for professional associations and provided examples of codes of ethics and good practice, including grievance and disciplinary procedures. In addition, this Department has facilitated the provision of work days. The purpose of these days is for different therapies to come together to undertake a process of harmonisation and development with regard to common basic standards of practice, education and training. In addition, these facilitated work days provide a forum for greater cohesion within each therapy. Work days were organised in 2007 for a number of the higher risk therapies as categorised in the Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists i.e. acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, aromatherapy and homoeopathy.

In addition to the above, an Information Guide for the Public has been produced offering guidance for members of the public when choosing to see a complementary therapist.

The certification of complementary therapy training courses was also recommended in the Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists. In this regard, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) is developing standards for complementary therapy education courses.

The coexistence of complementary and conventional medicine is often called Integrated Medicine. Integrated medicine refers to an approach where therapies are largely a complement to, rather than an alternative to, conventional biomedicine. It often combines mainstream medical therapies and complementary therapies for which there is some scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness (UK House of Lords Report 2000). The Report recommended the establishment of a forum for dialogue between the complementary and conventional medical sectors.

My Department is considering the best way to progress this proposal. Consultation may need to take place with various service divisions within my Department and the HSE as the principal provider of health and social care services. In addition to the issues mentioned above, the type and location of services needs to be considered. It is hoped that progress in the development of appropriate forums between complementary and conventional medicines can be achieved over time and that mechanisms for robust voluntary self-regulation will continue to be pursued.