Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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128. To ask the Minister for Health his policy regarding integrative health otherwise known as integrative medicine; if the practice has been recognised here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38418/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Integrative medicine relates to the combining of alternative therapies with those of evidence based medicine. Complementary and alternative therapies and are not funded through the public health system and are not regulated by the Department. All regulated healthcare professionals are required to practice in accordance with their respective professional and ethical codes of conduct and the use by these regulated professionals of such therapies has to be in accordance with the requirements of the respective regulators.

General policy on complementary therapy is informed by the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists which reported in 2005. Their report is available athttp://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/report-of-the-national-working-group-on-the-regulation-of-complementary-therapists-to-the-minister-for-health-and-children. In line with a recommendation of the National Working Group, the Department of Health supports greater voluntary self-regulation of complementary therapy.

While those providing complementary therapies are not subject to professional statutory regulation, they are subject to a range of legislation and regulation, similar to other practitioners including consumer legislation, competition, contract and criminal law.

People should be supported and empowered to make informed choices about how they can best look after their own and their families health and wellbeing. It is important that people have access to current, accurate and reliable information about health and health-related services and products, and that they consult relevant healthcare professionals for advice about their health needs.

The Department also produced an information leaflet to help consumers make an informed health choice on complementary medicine. It is on the Departments website