Go directly to legislation of specific CAM therapies in Cyprus:
Acupuncture – Anthroposophic medicine – Ayurveda – Chiropractic – Herbal medicine/Phytotherapy –
Homeopathy – Massage – Naprapathy – Naturopathy – Neural therapy – Osteopathy – Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Other treatments
The legal and regulatory status of CAM and CAM practices
Only medical doctors can provide medical treatment in Cyprus (44). “It is a criminal offence for others to practise medicine or give medications”. CAM is not integrated with medicine and only chiropractic treatment is recognized and regulated (44). Treatment is restricted tolegally regulated personnel, however a practitioner approved to practise under United Kingdom regulations, is also approved to practise in Cyprus (43, 70).
The Cyprus Alternative Therapeutics is registered by the Cyprus Government in accordance with the Societies and Institutions Law No-57 of 1972, 1973. In 2004 all alternative Medicine Associations have come under one umbrella body thus forming the Cyprus General Council of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The council has taken major steps towards self-regulation within the profession (71).
The Alternative Medicine Practitioners are not protected by law like the Medical
Association’s members. Only the practice of modern, orthodox medicine by professionals is recognized, however various forms of complementary and alternative medicine practices are tolerated (71). Alternative practitioners may register in “the Cyprus general council & register of alternative therapists”. Associations included are: Cyprus Alternative Therapies Association (Reg. No.1457), Cyprus Naturopathic Association (Reg.No. 1549), Cyprus Traditional Acupuncture Association (Reg.No. 2120) (71).
The governmental supervision of CAM Practices
No specific regulation has been found on supervision of CAM practices in Cyprus.
The reimbursement status of CAM practices and medicinal products
Information from 2001 states that there is no reimbursement of CAM treatments in Cyprus, and CAM is not included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (44).
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.
43. Ersdal G, CAM-CANCER consortium. How are European patients safeguarded when using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)? Jurisdiction, supervision and reimbursement status in the EEA area (EU and EFTA) and Switzerland. Tromsø: NAFKAM, University of Tromsø 2005 28 October Report No.: Report CAM 21.11.05-1.doc.
44. Legal Status of Traditional Medicine and Complementary/Alternative Medicine : A Worldwide Review [database on the Internet]. World Health Organization. 2001 [cited 9 March 2010]. Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2001/WHO_EDM_TRM_2001.2.pdf, http://hinfo.humaninfo.ro/gsdl/whohss/1.00.0000/en/d/Jh2943e/.
70. ECCH. The Legal Situation for the Practice of Homeopathy in Europe; Revised Edition 2009. European Council for Classical Homeopathy (ECCH), 2009 May 2006. Report No.: 2009.
71. The Cyprus Associations of Alternative Therapeutics. The Cyprus Associations of Alternative Therapeutics; About us. 2011 [cited 2011 November 8]; Available from: http://www.cyprusaat.org/index.php.option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=29.
