Latvia
(ref 1)
Summary
In Latvia treatment is restricted to legally regulated personnel. CAM is not regulated.
Professionals and non-professionals
Legally regulated personnel
Only authorised medical professionals are allowed to carry out medical acts, and only doctors certified in the field of CAM may practise CAM legally. A certificate of CAM treatment has to be renewed after a period of five years. Homeopathy and acupuncture have status as clinical specialities in allopathic medicine.
Physicians with a certificate to provide CAM are supervised by a commission of experts, which counts members of medical associations, in cooperation with representatives of the Medical Society of the Republic of Latvia.
Not anybody may treat
Non-allopathic providers are not allowed to practise CAM, even if they work under the supervision of a recognised health professional. However, non-allopathic providers practise CAM, and in these cases the Administrative Codex provides for a penalty for unauthorised medical practise. However, patients very seldom take legal proceedings against CAM providers.
Reimbursement
CAM is generally not covered by compulsory health insurance. Acupuncture and homeopathy are exceptions. Private insurance has since 1998 covered legally provided CAM.
References
1. Reference for the chapter where nothing else is noted: Maddalena S. The legal status of complementary medicines in Europe. Berne: Universitè de Neuchâtel, Stæmpfli Publisher Ltd. 1999.
