ePolitix.com speaks to Michael McIntyre of the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA) about the need for the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners.
Question: When we last spoke to you, you were calling for the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners. Where have you got to with this?
Michael McIntyre: Last June Ben Bradshaw promised that the Department of Health (DH) would publish a public national consultation document on the statutory regulation of acupuncturists, herbalists and practitioners of traditional systems of medicine such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda.
We have just heard from the Department of Health that this draft consultation document is with Ben Bradshaw together with the report of the Committee on Extending Professional Regulation and these two documents will be published simultaneously by the DH by the end of this month. This, we hope, will rapidly lead to the statutory regulation of this sector.
Question: Why is it important the government takes action quickly?
Michael McIntyre: The Department of Health steering group for the statutory regulation of practitioners of acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicine systems practised in the UK was set up by the DH in June 2006. Its report, published in May 2008, called for the immediate statutory regulation of this sector in the interest of the safety of the public who wish to receive such treatment.
This report reiterated the findings of two previous DH-sponsored committees which reported on the statutory regulation of acupuncture and herbal medicine in 2003 and a report from the House of Lords science and technology select committee published in 2000.
The government has been slow to respond to the problems of a completely unregulated sector which makes it difficult for the public to identify responsible well-trained practitioners. Some of these problems have been clearly identified by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on its website in several items. An Ipsos MORI report (Jan 2009) showed that 77 per cent of adults agree that it is important that herbal medicines are regulated.
Question: What are the consequences of not regulating the sector?
Michael McIntyre: Non-regulation will allow poor quality products and practice to exist at considerable risk to the public.
Question: Why are you calling for statutory regulation over voluntary?
Michael McIntyre: Statutory regulation is particularly appropriate for those prescribing internal medicines or needling patients. This was highlighted by House of Lords science and technology committee.
Statutory regulation allows the control of herbal medicinal products by practitioners who can be struck off the register if they do not follow good practice.
Question: Since 2000 there have been a number of reports and consultations calling for regulation in this area. Why has the government been slow to act?
Michael McIntyre: You would have to ask the minister, Ben Bradshaw, that! The delay reflects badly on the minister and the DH, particularly since the DH recognised the need for statutory regulation as long ago as 2001 and actually published a timetable for this in 2005.
Question: There are those who say that the campaign for regulation is a way of giving the appearance of official approval without evidence that herbal medicines and acupuncture work. How would you respond to this?
Michael McIntyre: Statutory regulation is not a badge of efficacy but a means of ensuring public safety. It is not true to say that there is no evidence for the use of herbal medicine and acupuncture. St John's wort has been show effective in mild to moderate depression, whilst acupuncture for low back pain has just been recommended by NICE for patients on the NHS.
Besides, much of modern medicine has no reliable evidence base but this doesn't stop doctors from being effectively regulated by the GMC.
