An Act establish association and to regulate the practice of Naturopathy / Homeopathy and other natural medicine.
To register and provide the regulated purpose.
Part 1 – ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTION OF NATUROPATHIC
MEDICAL PRACTISE IN THE ASSOCIATION.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
- The establishment of this naturopathy association as a body corporate body.
- The association shall have perpetual succession, a common seal and may sue and be sued in its own name.
- The association may discharge its functions acquire and hold any movable and immovable property and may enter into any contact or other transaction.
Part -2
Objectives and functions of the association
- The objective of the association is to promote, control and regulate the practice of Naturopathy, Homeopathy and other natural medical practice.
- For the purpose of this subsection (1); The association shall-
- Set standards for the practice of Naturopathy, Homeopathy and natural medical practice.
- Issue membership certificate of registration to qualified practitioners
- Membership I.D. card to be renewed annually.
- Determine fees to be paid for a certificate of membership.
- Promote research in the science of Naturopathy /Homeopathy and other natural medical practice.
- Promote and support training in Naturopathy /Homeopathy.
- Approved in consultation with such educational institutions as medicine.
- Determine the enforcement code of ethics for Naturopathy/Homeopathy and other natural medical practitioners.
- Advise the President on matters relating to and affecting the practice of alternative medicines.
- Perform such other functions that auxiliary to the object of association.
THE EXECUTIVES
- PRESIDENT
- VICE PRESIDENT
- GENERAL SECRETARY
- DEPUTY SECRETRAY
- ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
- PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER
- TREASURER / FINANCE SECRETARY
- ORGANIZER
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION
- The association shall consist of the following persons appointed by the president acting in collaboration with the veteran practitioners.
- President who is a Naturopathy /Homeopathy practitioner
- Five member committee selected from the Association at least one of whom shall be a woman.
- A Vice President elected from the association membership.
- Three representatives of the Ministry of Health one of whom shall be the Director of Traditional and Alternative Medicine Directorate of the Minister of Health.
- Financial Secretary and a treasurer .
- R.O.
- ORGINER
- General Secretary
- Deputy Secretary
- Administrative Secretary.
- A representative from Center of Scientific Research into Plant Medicine.
MEETING OF ASSOCIATION
- The association shall meet for the dispatch of business at selected time and places as the president may determine, but shall meet at least once every three months.
- The president shall at the request in writing of not less than one –third of the membership of the executives convene an extraordinary meeting of the association at a selected place as may be determine by the executives.
- The minimum quorum at a meeting of the executives shall be four members of executive or a greater number determined by the executives in respect of an important matters or questions relating to policy or finance.
- A meeting of the association shall be presided over by the president to his absence by the vice president or a member of the executive elected by the members present among their among their number.
- Matters before the association shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes the person presiding shall have a second or casting vote.
APPOINTMENT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES
- The association may appoint committees consisting a member of the executive or members of the association to perform any of it functions.
- Without prejudice to subsection (1) the following committees are:
- Finance
- Complaints and Disciplinary
- Technical
- A committee of the association shall be chaired by a member of the executive.
- The association shall determine the functions of each committee.
Appointment of Advisory Committee
- The association shall in collaboration with recognized bodies responsible for each field of alternative medicine practice appoint and Advisory Committee for each field specializations.
- An Advisory Committee shall in respect of its specialized field:
- Consider applications for registration and make recommendations in respect of the application to the association.
- Assist in the formulation of the code of ethics
- Act in partnership with practitioners within that field;
- Advise on training course for practitioners.
- Assist in the preparations of syllabus used in training institutions.
- Establish an award scheme for deserving practitioners,
- Liaise with international associations to assist the development of the field.
- Determine any other issued periodically.
Allowance
- Member of the association and a member of committee of the association shall be paid such allowance as may be approved by the executive in partnership with executives responsible for finance.
Regional and District Offices of the Association
- The association shall establish regional and district offices in each regional capital or districts as association may be determine.
- A regional or district office of the association shall be provided with public officers as the president acting in accordance with the advice of the executives determined by the association.
- A regional or district office of the association shall perform specific functions of the association directed.
PART –II REGISTRATION OF PRACTITIONERS
Registration of Practitioner
- A person shall not operate as a practitioner or use any premises to practice or operate any of the alternative medicine diagnostic or therapeutic modalities or systems specified the as he / she is recommendation by the association.
- Registration base on recommendation may be permanent or renewed
- A person seeking registration shall be recommended in a manner, as determined by the association.
Qualification for Registration for Registration
- An applicant approved or classified by the association .
- Hold a valid qualification in the field of specialization of alternative medicine to which the application relates.
- Has adequate proficiency in that field of practice of Alternative Medicine.
- Has passed a professional Licensure examination.
- Applied of good character
- Temporal regional of non –citizenship not more than six months.
These qualities shall direct the General Secretary to enter the applicant’s name in the Register of Practitioners and issue the applicant with a certificate of registration of the payment of fees applicant by the determine by the association.
- A person issued with a certificate under subsection (1) shall be known as a practitioner for the purposes of this Act.
- Registration under this Act shall be in addition to registration required under any other law in respect of the practice.
Temporary registration of non –citizen
- A person who is not a citizens of Ghana may be temporarily registered as
- Must be a holder of work permit or is otherwise entitled to engage in gainful employment in Ghana.
- Has satisfied the requirements under association.
- Has good working experience with of one or two of the principals in Ghanaian
- Produces certified proof of qualification and valid Registration to operate in the that person’s country of origin or place of instruction.
Title of Practitioners
- The Minister of Health on the recommendations of the association given in allianee with the association may prescribe by regulations the title to be used by practitioners based on the type of service rendered and he qualifications of the practitioners.
Renewal of Certificate o f Registration
- Membership certificate of registration shall expire on the 31st day of December of the year of issue and may be renewed subject to the provisions of this Act.
Suspension of Registration
- The association may suspend for a specified period the registration of the practitioner where;
- Allegations of misconduct have been made against the practitioner registration to practice must be suspended.
- An offence in relation to the practitioner is being investigated
- A false declaration has been made in the application of certificate of the practitioner or
- The association shall conduct and conclude its investigations within a period of the of suspension practitioner.
Cancellation of Registration
- A certificate of a practitioner shall be cancelled by the association on the recommendations of the complaints and disciplinary committee where the practitioner;
- Has been convicted of an offence under the Act or Regulation made under it;
- Has lost the qualification on the basis of which the registration was made;
- Has appeared before the committee, which has been recommended by the association that his registration be cancelled.
- A certificate of a practitioner shall be cancelled if the association consider the act as necessary in the interest of public health, safety or morality.
Representation To The Association
- A registration shall not be cancelled or suspended unless the association has give the practitioner at least thirty days notice in writing of its intention to suspend or cancel the registration and has provided the practitioner and opportunity to make representations, if any, to the association.
LICENSING OF PREMISES FOR PRACTICE
- A person shall not own or operate any equipment for a practice specified in the schedule (1) to this Act unless the premise is license under this Act.
Application and Condition For License
- A person may apply for a license to the association in the prescribed form.
- The applicant shall attach to the application.
- The block plan of the premises.
- Preliminary approval from the District Planning Authority of the relevant District Assembly on the suitability of the land or premises to be used for he practice.
- Clearance from the Environmental Protection Agency
- Copies of certificates of proposed practitioners in the practice and proof of their registration .
- A list of types of services to be rendered.
- A list of equipment in the practice with their technical specifications
- Evidence of financial capability of the owner to operate.
- A license shall not be granted to an applicant if the association is satisfied as described below:-
- The applicant or managing employee of the applicant has at least three years post qualification experience in a recognized institution of relevance to his profession.
- The past or present conduct of the person concerned with the operation of practice provides reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will operate in accordance with Act.
- The applicant has submitted a block plan of the premises.
- The applicant is able to provide the resource and equipment required to operate the practice and;
- Any other requirement specified by the association has been compiled with.
- For the purpose of this section “the person concerned with the operation of practice” in subsection (3) (b) means.
- The applicant
- An officer or director of the practice
- A person who holds more than ten percent of the equity shares of the practice or an officer or director of that person or
- Any other person who has a beneficial interest in the operation of the practice .
Application by Non- Citizen (s)
A non –citizen may be granted a license by association to own or operate a practice where that person;
- Possesses a valid work permit issued by the Minister for the Internal.
- Is registered with the appropriate professional body
- Has at least five years post qualification experience in a recognized institution of relevance to his profession.
- Has practiced in his professional capacity under a qualified practitioner in this country for at least one year immediately preceding the application.
- Has the requisite language proficiency for practice in Ghana;
- Has passed a professional examination set by the appropriate professional body in Ghana where applicable .
- Has registered his practice with the Registrar General’s Department ;
- Has fulfilled any other conditions set by the association .
- Create a risk to public health safety or is indecent immoral
- Result in a social or financial loss to member of the public of non –compliance with the provision of this Act.
The services provided in the practice have deteriorated below the required standard or.
Qualified practitioners have not been employed by the owner or operator of practice.
Notice of Revocation or Refusal To Renew a License.
Where the association revokes or refuses to renew a license, the association shall give the applicant;
- A notice of the revocation or refusal
- Reason for the revocation or refusal
- An opportunity to make representation to the association .
- Notwithstanding subsection (1) the council may direct a patient to remain on the premises and continue to receive any necessary treatment.
Power of entry and inspection
- Subject to subsection (1) an inspector authorized by association may or at any time enter premises being used or suspected to be used for a practice.
- Where authorized inspector enters any premises by virtue of subsection (1) he/she shall inspect.
- The license
- Registers and books of the practice
- The premises, including the equipment and
- Any other things which is relevant to his investigation and make recommendations to the association.
- The inspector shall at request of the person in charge of the premises produce his authorization.
- The association shall cause a practice to be inspected at least once year.
- A police officer not below the rank Assistant Superintendent may enter any premises if he has reasonable causes to believe that an offence with respect to this Act has been, or is being or is about to be committed.
- The association may order the closure of a practice if considered in the public interest to do so.
- Noting in this section shall be construed as authorizing the inspection of any medical record relating to a patient kept in the practice.
Obstruction of Inspector
No person shall obstruct an authorized inspector in the conduct of his duty under this Act.
Notification of Coroner
A practitioner shall notify a corner of death in their premises occurring within twenty –four hours of admission.
- The President shall act in accordance with the advice of the association given in conjunction with the public services commission, appoint a General Secretary of the council .
- The General Secretary shall be a practitioner with a considerable administrative and managerial experience and has hold office on such terms and conditions as specified in his letter of appointment.
Functions of The General Secretary
- Subject to the directions of the association the General Secretary shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of the association and shall be answerable to association in the performance of his functions under this Act.
2.The General Secretary shall keep up – to – date record of registered practitioners and premises licensed for practice under this Act.
- The General Secretary may delegate any of any his functions to another officer of the association but he shall not be relieved from ultimate responsibility for the discharge of any delegated function.
General Secretary of Naturopathy Medicine Practitioners
The association shall record in a register to be known as the General Secretary of Alternative Medicine Practitioners the names of registered practitioners and premises licensed under this Act.
Appointment of Other Staff
- The association shall have other officers and staff as may necessary for the proper and effective performance of its functions.
- The President shall act in accordance with the advice of the executive given in conjunction with the public services commission and on such terms and conditions as he may determine appointed staff of the association .
- The executive may upon the recommendations of the General Secretary engage the services of consultants and advisers.
- Other public officers may be transferred or seconded to the executive may otherwise give assistance to its;
- Donation and
- Grants
Account and Audit
- The treasurer /finance shall keep books of account and proper records in relation to them in a form approved by the Auditor –General.
- The account of the association shall be audited by the Auditor –General within three months after the end of each financial year.
- The Auditor –General shall, not later than three months after the submission of the accounts by association forward to the president a copy of the audited accounts of the association.
Annual Report and Other Report
- The association shall as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year but within eight months after the end submit to the president and annual report covering the activities and the operation of the association for the preceding year to which the report related.
- The annual report submitted under subsection (1) shall include the report the Auditor –General
- Pollutes the environment in the course of his operation under this Act;
- Works in a practice without the appropriate qualification or registration;
- Fails to notify a corner contrary to section 30;
- In any manner contravenes any of the provisions of this Act;
- When one uses a title for which he/she is not qualified.
Interpretation
In this Act unless the context otherwise requires –
Acupuncture means a Chinese healing art in which special needles are used to pierce and stimulate a very precise points on the body to produce a wide range of therapeutic effects;
Acupressure massage mean an type of body work based on the same concept of acupuncture but pressure applied concept of acupuncture.
SCHEDULE 1
Alternative medicine diagnostic or therapeutic modalities or systems to be licensed –
- Acupressure
- Radionics
- Hydrotherapy
- Magneto therapy
- Naturopathy
- Reflexology
- Therapeutic massage
- Botanical Medicine
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Chiropractic
- Osteopathy
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
From the therapist’s finger tip or knuckle or with a
blunt –typed instrument called a “tei shiu” to stimulate
specific points on the acupuncture meridians
(energy channels) on the patient’s body.
Alternative medicine” means any form of medicine that is outside
the mainstream of allopathic and traditional
medicines which involves the management or
treatment of diseases in cooperation with natural
forces and the defensive mechanisms of the body.
“Chiropractic” means a medical care system that deals with the
relationship between the spinal column and the
nervous system; (The Art and Science of correcting
spinal and joint misalignments with specific
adjustment).
“Council” means the Alternative Medicine Practice Council
established under section 1 of this Act.
“Homeopathy” means a highly systematic therapeutic that
concentrates on treating the whole patient rather
than the disease. It is a natural healing process,
providing remedies to assist the patient to regain
health by stimulating the body’s natural forces of
recovery. It is based on the principle of “like cures
like”.
“Hydrotherapy” means the use of water hot or cold fresh or mineral
for therapeutic or healing purposes.
“Minister means the Minister responsible for Health
“Ministry” means the Ministry of Health.
“Naturopathy” means a gentle system of treatment that uses
manipulation of the soft connective tissue,
ligaments, muscle and tendons to release tension
and restore the normal flow of energy in the body;
or
means a therapeutic system involving diagnosis,
management and treatment of diseases using
natural healing methods which employs nature’s
agencies, forces and products.
“Practice” means alternative medicine practice;
“Practitioners” means alternative medicine practitioners
“Premises” includes any house, building, structure, tent,
caravan, land, ship, boat, aircraft, and mechanically
propelled vehicle;
“Prescribed” means prescribed by Regulations made by the
Minister under section 41 of this Act;
“Radionics” means a method of diagnosing disease through the
use of a radionic instrument which senses the
vibration and may be used to treat a disease;
“Reflexology” means body work which utilizes the principle that
there are reflex points also called areas or zones on
the soles of the feet or palms of hands that
represent or correspond to major organs, glands
and areas of the body.