More Protection, Choice and Improved Healthcare for Ontarians: OAND Welcomes Final Approval of Naturopathy Act

Improved regulation moves naturopathic doctors into mainstream

Toronto (May 28, 2007) Ontarians can expect better access to high quality healthcare when the Naturopathy Act comes into effect, according to the organization representing Ontario’s naturopathic doctors (NDs). The Naturopathy Act is part of Bill 171, the Health System Improvements Act, which has been introduced today for third and final reading. The changes introduced in the Naturopathy Act improve the regulation of NDs, offering important support and protection for the increasing number of Ontarians who are choosing complementary healthcare.

“This legislation clearly signals that this government is committed to supporting Ontarians who choose complementary healthcare by making sure they have access to high quality care,” said Ruth Anne Baron ND, Chair of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND). “Ontarians are taking charge of their health, and many are being drawn to the holistic approach of NDs. The effective regulation of the profession will now allow NDs to reach their full potential as partners in primary healthcare and illness prevention.”

Ontario’s NDs support the objective of the Naturopathy Act to bring NDs under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) with an effective scope of practice. This ensures the patients of NDs will be able to continue to receive the full range of care that is currently available under current legislation.

Ontario has over 850 NDs, more than anywhere else in North America. NDs are highly educated primary care providers who integrate standard medical diagnostics with a broad range of natural therapies. NDs obtain comprehensive and rigorous training in an educational structure similar to that of medical doctors. NDs require three years of pre-med university education, four years of fulltime study at an accredited college of naturopathic medicine and continuing education to maintain their registration.

NDs practice a unique, comprehensive and evidence-based approach to improving health and treating illness. NDs support and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself, focusing on prevention and using natural substances and treatments. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the cause of illness, rather than simply treating or suppressing symptoms. “We are focused on helping people to live healthier lives,” Ruth Anne Baron ND said. “The more that evidence comes in, the more comfortable people are about looking at complementary therapies. There’s just been an explosion of interest.”

NDs are already regulated under the Drugless Practitioner Act, which ensures high standards of practice for the profession. The Naturopathy Act allows for a new and modern self-governing regulatory college that provides all the public protections available to patients of other regulated health professions. The move into the mainstream of health regulation will help to ensure that patients receive the most comprehensive and effective care possible by allowing NDs to work in partnership with other regulated healthcare providers, by making communication between them easier.

The Naturopathy Act also provides the public with more assurance that when they are seeing a Naturopathic Doctor they are receiving care from a highly educated and regulated health care provider.

Ontarians are already choosing care from NDs. Nearly one-fifth (18 percent) of Ontarians say they have visited an ND for treatment of an illness or for illness prevention counselling, according to recent public opinion research. The same survey found that more than double that number, or five million potential patients, would use the services of an ND in the future if more effective regulation were in place. The full polling questionnaire and response data can be found at www.oand.org.

The OAND is the professional association representing Ontario’s registered NDs.

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For further information contact:

Michael Heitshu

Director of Policy

OAND

416-233-2001 x. 27

policy@oand.org