British Complementary Medicine Association Launches Its Independent Regulatory Council

Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 12 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

After watching other attempts to create a Voluntary Self Regulation Council for complementary medicine the British Complementary Medicine Association decided that the wrong priorities were being given in meeting the recommendations of the House of Lords Report created in 2000.

Terry Cullen, BCMA Chairman pointed out that every effort to achieve a suitable regulator followed a common pattern of complex regulation that was all but impossible to understand, a hierarchy and process that necessitated an unnecessary financial burden and a council that, in one case, had no direct therapy representation input into its structure or regulation maturity over time.

As a result the BCMA initiated a working group to develop an independent council that will consist of a representative from each registered therapy as well as public representation with lay members. This new regulator has a structure that is the minimum required to comply with the House of Lords Report. Its standards are written in plain English that all therapists will understand immediately and therefore be able to appreciate the benefits of registering. This new council will be known as the British Complementary Therapy Council for Voluntary Self Regulation (BCTCvsr).

It was launched at this years CAMExpo and Natural Products Exhibition at Earls Court, October 25 and 26 and immediately represented twenty therapies. More information is available from the BCMA website http://www.bcma.co.uk

Source
Mary Rudd/Sara Boddy
Mary Rudd PR

British Complementary Medicine Association