Finland
(ref 1)
Summary
In Finland anybody may treat. Chiropractics, naprapaths, and osteopaths are regulated.
Professionals and non-professionals
Legally regulated personnel
Health care professionals are prescribed in the Act 559/1994 and the Decree 564/1994. Health care professionals include licensed professionals, authorised professionals and professionals with a protected occupational title. The purpose of the Act and the Decree is to promote the safety of patients and to improve the quality of health care services by ensuring that health care professionals have the necessary training to provide medical treatments. The National Authority for Medico legal Affairs and State Provincial Offices supervises health care professionals. According to Act 559/1194 health care professionals must employ generally accepted, empirically justified methods, in accordance with their training which must be continually supplemented, but the methods which a health care professional may employ are not regulated more precisely.
Chiropractors (1994), naprapaths (1994), and osteopaths (1993) are categorised as professionals with a protected occupational title. They are accepted as part of the ordinary health service.
Everyone may treat
According to Act 559/1994, other practitioners who are not registered with a title may treat patients if they do not pretend to be health care professionals (by using a protected occupational title). However, the authorities do not supervise them. Acupuncture is not regulated in legislation and persons other than health care professionals may also apply it.
Reimbursement
In general, CAM is reimbursed if given by qualified physicians. Chiropractics, naprapathy, and osteopathy are reimbursed when given in cooperation with physicians. Private insurance reimburse some kind of chiropractic treatment.
References
1. The Ministry of health, Finland 19.09.05, http://www/teo.fi (National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs) or http://www/stadia.fi (Helsinki Politechnic Stadia/Faculty of Health Care and Social Services/Rehabilitation and Social Services/Osteopath)
