ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH THERAPISTS OF IRELAND (ARCHTI) Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Tel: 053-9383734

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

The Minister for Health & Children, Ms. Mary Harney, launched a Report of the National Working Group on the Regulation of Complementary Therapists

• On Monday, 16th May 2006 this Report was launched at the Alexander Hotel, Dublin. 

• The Minister stated that personally she is a "strong fan" of self-regulation.  ARCHTI  has always favoured voluntary self-regulation.

• The Report favours Voluntary Self-Regulation. ARCHTI has this as a mission statement since our foundation in 1999.

• ARCHTI is mentioned a number of times in the Report and is described as a "pan-therapy" association.

• The Chairperson of the Working Group behind the Report, Ms. Teri Garvey, said the Public need somewhere to go to find fully qualified therapists such as a reliable Website - look no further - you are here!

• She would like to make sure the Irish people have "quality assurance" in the complementary health sector.  ARCHTI has strived to ensure this from the very beginning by only accepting accredited qualifications from recognised training establishments.

• The Department of Health and Children advises members of the public to ask their practitioner if he/she holds professional indemnity insurance.  ARCHTI provides this insurance through Balens and insists that all Members must have insurance cover as part of our membership requirements.

• The Department of Health and Children also advises to ask if their practitioner is part of a professional association and if that organisation has a website.  ARCHTI Members get a FREE listing on our website under the various therapies practised.

• Associations which have not evolved directly from a Training School and are independent of any commercial venture associated with training are favoured in this Report.  ARCHTI is a totally independent Association which has evolved as a result of the need to provide the Irish public with fully qualified fully insured professional complementary health therapists and is funded by our membership subscriptions.  Whilst ARCHTI recommends accredited training schools and encourages continuing professional development (CPD), as far as we know, we are the only such organisation in Ireland today which is totally independent of such commercial involvement.

The actual Report can be purchased through any bookseller for €10 or by mail order from Government Publications, Postal Trade Section, 51 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. (Tel: 01-6476834/35/36/37; Fax: 01-6476843) or it can be purchased directly from the Government Publications Sale Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin, 2.

You can also download a copy of the Report .  Just click here http://www.dohc.ie/publications/complementary_therapists.html

The following is extracted from the Press Release, dated 15 May, 2006 at the launch of the Report....

The Tanaiste also said that she would shortly be signing a Statutory Instrument which would implement the EU Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products.  This was agreed at Europeean level on 11th March 2004 and has been facilitated by the recent enactment of the Irish Medicines Board Act 2005.   This Directive provides for a special legal framework for these products (herbal and homeopathic medicines for example) with a view to removing the differences and uncertainties about their status which currently exists in Member States and to further improve the protection of public health.  The Irish Medicines Board will be involved in the regulation of these products.  Manufacturers will have to satisfy the IMB that products meet quality standards, as for conventional pharmaceutical products, and are safe.

In line with the Tanaiste's belief that information for consumers of complementary therapy services will play an important part in protecting public safety she also launched an information leaflet.  She had asked her Department to prepare the leaflet following her concern that patients who have a serious illness should be aware of the importance of consulting their doctor even if they are attending a complementary therapist.  The leaflet will help people to choose wisely to safeguard their health and its key message is that if people have a condition which could need medical treatment they should visit their doctor first.

The leaflet for the public entitled   "Complementary Therapy -  An Information Guide for the Public" which will be circulated to General Practitioners, Complementary Therapists and Pharmacies and is available free of charge to members of the public from the Customer Services Desk of the Department of Health and Children, Hawkins House, Dublin, 2.  LoCall 1890 200311 or 01-6354000.

back to home page> >

© 1999 ARCHTI.  All pages of this website are the property of the Association of Registered ComplementaryHealth Therapists of Ireland.