Acupuncturists call for professional regulation

Acupuncturists call for professional regulation

Acupuncturists in New Zealand want the same legal recognition and standing as other allied health professions such as physiotherapists and osteopaths.

The president of the New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists, Paddy McBride, says the profession should be registered under the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act (HPCA).

“Registration will provide an additional assurance to the public that acupuncturists are professional and provide a quality, safe, mainstream healthcare service.”

Ms McBride said the NZRA has been lobbying government for registration since before the Act was first adopted. .

An expert panel appointed by the Ministry of Health recommended that acupuncturists should be registered under the Act, but the process has been continually delayed, Ms McBride said.

“We’re still no further ahead after all these years and it’s very frustrating.”

This week (November 17-23) is World Acupuncture Awareness Week and the NZRA is planning a series of events around the country.

Ms McBride said currently anyone can practice as an acupuncturist and offer services to the public.

“There are health and safety risks for the public under the present scenario and registration would go a long way toward addressing those issues.”

Acupuncturists who are members of the NZ Register of Acupuncturists must have completed at least four years full-time training in New Zealand or overseas.

NZRA members have also been recognised as ACC treatment providers since 1990.

“If it’s good enough for the ACC to recognise the value of the profession and the competency of our members, it would make sense to formalise that with registration under the Act,” Ms McBride said.

Acupuncturists have been registered in Australia since 2012 under the equivalent to New Zealand’s HPCA Act.

This year’s World Health Assembly urged member states to adopt the World Health Organisation’s Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Part of this strategy calls for the regulation of Traditional and Chinese Medicine products, practices and practitioners to strengthen the quality assurance, safety, proper use and effectiveness of this field of healthcare.

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