Professional Organisations
General Osteopathic Council
Osteopathy is governed by the General Osteopathic Council (GoSC) and was the first complementary therapy to be protected by an act of Parliament (The Osteopaths Act, 1993).
The GoSC maintains the statutory Register and patients are therefore assured that all Osteopaths have undergone a process of validation and that they are safe and competent to practice or have qualified from a GoSC accredited course and training. A patient consulting an Osteopath is entitled to a high standard of care which respects the patients dignity, individuality and privacy and to receive the appropriate care and treatment.
Website: General Osteopathic Council
General Council and Register of Naturopaths
The General Council and Register of Naturopaths is the registering body for Naturopathic practitioners in the UK and was formed in 1925. It maintains a register of persons qualified to practice as Naturopaths and supervises the ethical behaviour and professional conduct of registered practitioners. All members listed in the Register of Practitioner Members are qualified in Naturopathy and either hold a diploma in Naturopathy, or have passed the entrance examination set by the GCRN.
Website: General Council and Register of Naturopaths
Chinese Medical Institute and Register
The Chinese Medical Institute and Register (CMIR) was set up jointly by the AcuMedic Foundation and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and forms part of a programme to ensure optimum standards. The institute is dedicated to the modernisation of Chinese Medicine, and its proper integration into conventional mainstream medical practice. Focusing on educational programmes of a high standard, the Institute enjoys the backing of the top educational institution in China; whilst also co-ordinating research projects internationally. The institute maintains a register of properly qualified practitioners, who abide by a set of practice code. The other functions of the institute are to provide a forum for academic exchange and public awareness of the benefits and development of Chinese medicine.