IHP Magazine has contacted Arthur Potts, a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the riding of Beaches—East York and asked him to comment on the regulations for the profession of naturopathic medicine, the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990, and new regulations regarding accessing laboratory testing facilities. Please read his response below:
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for bringing forth your concerns about regulating the profession of naturopathy, pertaining specifically to the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990, and new regulations regarding accessing laboratory testing facilities.
Ontario respects alternative health therapies. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has been working with the transitional Council for the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (TCCNO) and all key naturopathy stakeholders to move the profession towards self-regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), 1991. Consultations have included and taken into consideration the various elements that are required for regulation under both the RHPA and the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act, 1990. The new regulation reflects this consultation.
Bringing naturopathy under more robust legislation will ensure high-quality care and bring important safeguards to protect patients. It also provides clarity for the profession’s scope of practice by defining what naturopaths may or may not do in the course of their practice.
This is an important step toward establishing the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. Health regulatory colleges are responsible for governing Ontario’s self-regulating health professions in the public interest, and part of their duties is to establish the requirements for entry into the professions, standards of practice and ongoing quality assurance.
The government is working closely with the TCCNO and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) to determine a list of specific tests that naturopaths may perform in their offices and those that they may order from Ontario licensed labs. The new regulatory changes would allow naturopaths to:
– collect specimens and perform specific tests in their offices.
– collect specimens other than blood for specific tests to be done in licensed laboratories for testing, diagnosis and treatment.
As with all other regulated health professions, the Ministry would continue to work with them post-proclamation to discuss further enhancing their scope of practice should such recommendations come forward that are evidence based and that would ensure the best patient care.
Regulating the profession of naturopathy is part of Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care, which puts people and patients first, provides better access to quality health services, and protects those services for generations to come.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the transitional Council directly:
Transitional Council for the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (TCCNO)
150 John Street, 10th Floor
Toronto, ON M5V 3E3
Telephone: 416-583-6010
Fax: 416-583-6011
info@collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca
http://www.collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca/
Sincerely,
Arthur Potts
MPP Beaches-East York
