Naturopaths under new scrutiny

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Editing and Researching news and stories about global and local Pharmacy Issues

For many years, naturopaths have craved recognition and to be able to practice their version of health medicine free from attack by other healthprofessionals.
Some universities e.g. Southern Cross University (SCU) in Lismore NSW, have upgraded the education of naturopaths so that it is evidence-based and is delivered to a Bachelor of Health Science Degree level.
This particular degree is designed as an all-purpose degree that can form a stepping-stone to the more traditional disciplines of medicine, nursing and pharmacy.
Now there is a move to form a register for these practitioners that would create uniform standards and make individuals more accountable.

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The ABC website has reported the following story.

"Naturopathic and herbal medicine practitioners say a new national register will help the industry tighten its regulations.
Complementary medicine educators have joined with naturopathic and herbalist associations to set uniform standards.
The Australian government regulates chiropractors, osteopaths and Chinese medicine practitioners but naturopaths are not included.
The new body's spokesman, Paul Orrock, says the public needs to have faith in their choice of healer and the register will give some level of protection."It's not the perfect system because we have no punitive measures against the practitioners but we'll be able to guarantee a good standard of education and code of conduct in the people that will be able to join the register," he said.

"The public will be able to make their choice with the safety and the certainty of the standards of practise of these groups that are members of the register."

The register is expected to be publicly available by 2010."

Southern Cross University (SCU) have been extremely active in finding placements for their naturopathy students and have succeeded in obtaining employment with Northern Rivers (NSW) community pharmacies and selected naturopathic practices.

Naturopaths do what many pharmacists would like to do i.e charge a fee for a consultative service, and with a new registration process, they will be free to establish health practices with a high degree of accountability.

They also fill the dual role of dispenser and consultant, a role that pharmacy has occupied successfully in the past.

Pharmacy still holds some of the high ground with its specialised drug knowledge, but with the health emphasis currently being switched to preventive, rather than curative, naturopaths may have an edge that will become apparent as they begin to compete for the same patients as does pharmacy.

This will result in the erosion of the pharmacy health market that is already under attack through clinical nurse practitioners.

i2P reported in 2008 that some health food stores with herbal dispensaries and naturopaths attached (including private consulting rooms) already were beginning to have an uncanny resemblance to a pharmacy.

With the potential for deregulation post 2010, these types of practices would have little difficulty in extending their existing dispensing services to include PBS dispensing.

With the emphasis on good health, diet and preventive medicine,

It should also be emphasised that this model would appeal to a wide range of health consumers.

For more on the registration of naturopaths follow this ABC story.