Wien Med Wochenschr. 1997 ; 147(18): 423-5.

[Healing practitioners in Austria?]

Ernst E.

Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, United Kingdom. E.Ernst@exeter.ac.uk

Following Austria's joining the Europian Union (EU), the "Heilpraktiker" topic has become a much debated subject in this country. This paper is an attempt to clarify a number of misconceptions related to this profession. The training, knowledge, responsibilities and rights of "Heilpraktiker" are not in accordance with the law that aims at "averting a danger to the health of the people". An EU harmonization of non-medically trained practitioners has long been discussed in Brussels but was recently rejected. A speedy solution to the obvious problems is therefore not in sight. On the basis of these facts, there are hardly any good reasons for introducing the "Heilpraktiker" in Austria.