Hello hahnemannian2002,
Friday, September 9, 2005, 9:45:12 AM, you wrote:
h> So the first step is defining what is the core teachings / syllabus
h> that is a must. Then all the splinter groups have to come together
h> and make a representation to the govt. wherever possible or agree to
h> stick to a common standard. Every school needs to have a hospital or
h> clinic attached with a demonstrable number of clients / patients
h> before being allowed to train homeopaths. The training needs to be
h> as rigorous as at least given for nurses if not more. If you have
h> too many groups controlling this we are once again diluting the
h> standards, do not present a common front. This same group should be
h> the one that certifies even allopathic doctors to practise
h> homeopathy - only then there could be a minimum common body of
h> knowledge shared across all practitioners. ( I am not sure how this
h> could be done in UK where there is an already entrenched body giving
h> Faculty Membership etc.) But at least for others this would be the
h> way to go. It would take time to build up but that is part of
h> legitimizing the profession.
This is the process that has taken place in Australia over the last 10
years. It required all the homeopathic splinter groups coming together
in a cooperative rather than competive manner (you can imagine how
difficult this was) to define the the minimum standards, competencies,
training, etc required before somebody should carry the title of
homeopath. A peak body was established (AROH - Australian Register of
Homeopaths)for registration purposes only of appropriately trained
homeopaths and forthcoming graduates. Government recognition and
accreditation of competencies was sought and gained because the
profession had organised itself.
Health care funds (insurance groups) now provide rebates to their
members for services provided by AROH practitioners. Separate
homoepathic associations still exist (but less than in the past - many
amalgamated) to meet the day to day needs of homeopaths - publicity,
continuing education, government liason, insurance, etc. Committee
members usually work in a voluntary capacity - and a fine job they do
too. These associations no longer have a registering function though
membership level is dependent on training.
It is not yet utopia and there is still much work to be done but the
profession in Australia is in a more secure state with a greater
degree of credibility than it had 10 years ago. It took a lot of
vision, hard work, and the preparedness of separate groups with vested
interests to bury a few hatchets and give some ground. The benefits
for the profession as a whole have been enormous.
--
Best regards,
Fran mailto:
FranSheffield@homeopathyplus.com.au