Portugal
(ref 1)
Summary
In Portugal treatment is restricted to legally regulated personnel. Acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, naturopathy, phytotherapy and chiropractics are regulated.
Professionals and non-professionals
Legally regulated personnel
In July 2003 the Portuguese parliament voted in favour of new laws that recognise the practise of acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, naturopathy, phytotherapy and chiropractics (ref 2) . The law ensures the right of the Portuguese citizens to freely choose a particular therapy they wish, and also regulates the practitioners who may practise these therapies as independent health care professionals. The Ministry of Education and Science controls the education and certification of degrees and diplomas for the practise of the therapies. A license (authorisation) is given when practitioner can provide qualification according this law.
For the safeguarding the patients, the law has claims about the practise of therapies, confidentiality, documentation routines, current insurance, and information about price, duration and prognosis (ref 3). Under this law the practise of the therapies will be controlled and accredited by the Ministry of Health.
Reimbursement
Information is not available.
References
1. Referee where nothing else is stated: European Council for Classical Homeopathy. Facts about Homeopathy and other CAM Therapies, Second Edition August 2004. http://www.homeopathy-ecch.org/newsevents.html
2. Project of law n 263/IX For framing the base of the Non-conventional Medicine and Project of law n 27/IX Legal procedures of the Non-conventional Therapies
3. The Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Norway. Report about Acupuncture and Homeopathy education. October 2004.
