Government to regulate Chinese medicines

Practitioner-of-Chinese

Traditional Chinese medicines will be regulated under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003 from today, the Ministry of Health recently announced.

A new law – The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (Designation of Chinese Medicine Services as Health Profession) Order 2021 – has been imposed, ensuring Chinese medicines will no longer be self-regulating practices – including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and tui na massage therapy. 

“New Zealanders consulting practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine can be sure they are properly trained and registered,” said Health Minister Andrew Little. 

Currently, there are about 1200 Chinese medicine practitioners who act independently in assessing, treating, and referring patients, and usually operate in sole practices.

“Putting this regulation in place will provide assurance that practitioners are appropriately qualified and competent to practice,” Little added. “The purpose of the HPCA Act is to protect the public by providing mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their professions.”

The Chinese Medicine Council will roll out the qualifications and competency standards required for practitioners of Chinese medicine.

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