Homeopathic practice
Only medical doctors and, by Asetus terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilöistä 564/1994 (Decree 564/1994 on Health Care Professionals), registered chiropractors, naprapaths, and osteopaths are recognized healthcare professionals and allowed to practise medicine — specifically, to diagnose patients and charge fees. However, according to Laki terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilöistä 559/1994 (Act No. 559/1994 on Health Care Professionals), other, non-medically qualified, practitioners may treat patients if they do not practise within public services and do not pretend to be healthcare professionals.
As a result, only medical doctors and registered chiropractors, naprapaths, and osteopaths are supervised by the medical authorities in practising CAM, including homeopathy. Other healthcare practitioners are not supervised, nor is their licensing regulated.
Only a few medical doctors are trained in homeopathy and apply it in their practice. Homeopathy is mainly practised by non-medically qualified practitioners. Finnish legislation provides no official status for homeopathy, but regulation of CAM practice, including homeopathy, is underway.
Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use, which includes homeopathic medicinal products, has been transposed to national law, the Laki lääkelain muuttamisesta 853/2005 (Law amending the Medicines Act) of 5 November 2005, although not all requirements of the Directive regarding homeopathic medicinal products have been implemented as yet.
