MP on herbal medicines

Clwyd West MP, David Jones, has written to Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health, urging his Department to proceed with the statutory regulation of practitioners of herbal medicine, Chinese traditional medicine and acupuncture as a matter of priority.

David Jones said:

“In 2011, a new European Directive will amend certain sections of the 1968 Medicines Act, meaning that a wide range of herbal remedies and medicines may cease to be available to practitioners of herbal and traditional medicine, as they will only be available for prescription by ‘authorised healthcare professionals’.

“I have urged the Secretary of State to proceed with the statutory regulation of practitioners of herbal and traditional medicine and acupuncture as a matter of priority, so that those practitioners may continue to prescribe these remedies.

“The National Institute of Medical Herbalists was established in 1864 and operates under a Royal Charter granted by Henry VIII. They are therefore a well-established branch of the medical profession in this country and their services are valued by many thousands of patients.

“I therefore hope the Secretary of State will proceed with statutory regulation as soon as possible, so that herbalists and practitioners of traditional medicine may continue their valuable work and patients may continue to benefit from their services.”