Go directly to legislation of specific CAM therapies in Latvia:
Acupuncture – Anthroposophic medicine – Ayurveda – Chiropractic – Herbal medicine/Phytotherapy – Homeopathy – Massage – Naprapathy – Naturopathy – Neural therapy – Osteopathy – Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Other treatments
The Baltic state Latvia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and became a member of the European Union in 2004 (11). Latvia became a member state of the Council of Europe on 10 February 1995 (12).
The legal and regulatory status of CAM and CAM practices
Acupuncture, anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy, are regulated in Latvia, and only medically qualified professionals are allowed to practise CAM (50, 106). Acupuncture and homeopathy are considered medical specialties since 1993 (177).
Only qualified Medical Doctors have the legal right to provide CAM diagnostic methods and treatment (178). The regulation of acupuncture, homeopathy and ayurvedic medicine is delegated to the Latvian medical society (Latvijas Ärstu biedrïba) (28, 50).
“The Administrative Codex prohibits non-medically qualified practitioners for practising medicine of any kind”(28, 178). The Cabinet Regulation No. 431/1997 gives “Procedures for Certification of Medical Practitioners”(179).
Regulated professions in medicine and pharmacy are described in Chapter III and chapter IX, § 50 in “the Act on regulated professions and recognition of professional qualifications” (180). Doctor, dentist, pharmacist, nurse (medical nurse), assistants of those professions and physiotherapeutist are professions of interest for CAM (180).
If unified requirements exists for all foreign countries for the above professions, chapter VII, article 34 regulates the special system for recognition of foreign citizens (180). If a person applies for temporary or occasional work in Latvia the professionals act recognizes the persons’ professional qualifications if his profession is regulated in an EU/EFTA country and in Latvia. If the profession is not regulated in the applicant’s state of residence, he may practise if the profession is regulated in Latvia and he fulfills specific practise claims (181).
The governmental supervision of CAM Practices
CAM professionals providing acupuncture, homeopathy and ayurvedic medicine are supervised by a commission of experts representing the Medical Society of the Republic of Latvia and the professional medical associations (28, 50).
The reimbursement status of CAM practices and medicinal products
CAM, in particular acupuncture and homeopathic treatments, are partially covered by some private insurance companies in Latvia (41, 106, 177).
11. EUROPA. Gateway to the European Union; member countries. Brussels EUROPA
Communication department of the European Commission; 2011 [cited 2011 November 3]; Available from: http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htm.
12. Council of Europe. Council of Europe. Strasbourg: Council of Europe; 2011 [cited 2011
November 7]; Available from: http://www.coe.int/lportal/web/coe-portal.
28. ECH (European Committee for Homeopathy). ECH in European Countries. Brussels: ECH; 2011 [cited 2011 September 12]; Available from: http://www.homeopathyeurope.org/countries.
41. ECHAMP. Homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine in the EU: Facts and Figures 2011 (Third edition). In: European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medical Products, editor. Third ed. Brussels: ECHAMP E.E.I.G.; 2011.
50. ECCH. The Legal Situation for the Practice of Homeopathy in Europe; An ECCH report; Oct 2010; Revised Edition 2011,. Brussels: European Central Council of Homeopaths 2010.
106. CAMDOC Alliance ECH ECPM ICMART and IVAA. The regulatory status of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for medical doctors in Europe. Brussels 2010 January 2010. Report No.: 2010.
177. Nikolajs Nikolajevs; Professor: ICMART. Email: CAM legislation Latvia. 2012.
178. Presiden ICMART Professor Nikolajs Nikolajevs. Complimentary medicine in Latvia. AROGYA 2007- International Meet of TM Regulators and Industry; October 27; New Dehli, India: Pharmexcil; 2007.
179. Cabinet Regulation No. 431 Adopted 23 December 1997 Procedures for Certification of Medical Practitioners Issued Pursuant to Section 29 of the Medical Treatment Law, The Cabinet of the Republic of Latvia(1997).
180. Law on regulated professions and recognition of professional qualifications, In force from July 2001, published in Latvijas Vestnesis NO 105 on July 6, 2001, The Parliament of the republic of Latvia(2001).
181. Irina Arhipova; Acting deputy state secretary on policy issues. Evaluating the Professional Qualifications Directive In: Jürgen Tiedje; head of professional qualifications Unit; DG Internal Market & Services; European Commission, editor. Riga: Republic of Latvia Ministry of Education and Science; 2010.
