Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1997

Vol. 480 No. 2

Written Answers. - Alternative Medicine.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

167 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health his Department's policy or view on reflexology, natural medicines and other alternative medicines; if they are recommended or otherwise; and if any official data in support is available. [13486/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Cowen)

The general position in regard to alternative medicine in Ireland is that it is not regulated by statute and there are no immediate plans to regulate it.

Practitioners of alternative therapies, including reflexology, are free to engage in practice provided they do not represent themselves as being registered medical practitioners. Those engaged in practice are, of course, subject to general common law provisions.

I am aware that the representative bodies of practitioners of alternative medicine are concerned about the issues of control of standards and codes of practice in the area. My Department encourages the various therapies to establish their own regulatory structures and to develop mechanisms to inform the general public about the availability of services from reputable therapists. It is the responsibility of the individual members of the public to satisfy themselves that they are availing of the services of reputable therapists at all times.

An EU research project on "unconventional medicine" is currently researching and assessing this issue and is expected to report later this year.