Spain to Ban Alternative Medicine and Practices

Spain has announced its plans to eradicate alternative medicine. Last November, the Spanish government declared that alternative medicine or unconventional treatments would no longer be available in health centers. This initiative is part of the government’s project called Health Protection Plan Against Pseudo-therapies. The project aims to eliminate alternative medical practices, which are possibly harmful and not scientifically proven. Spain arrived at this decision after 400 Spanish scientists appealed to the government against pseudo-scientific medical practices. It also came after several deaths of patients who favored alternative treatments over traditional ones. The government’s project will have four parts. The first part will involve developing a strategy to ensure wider and more effective information dissemination regarding alternative medicine. Second, laws to stop misleading advertisements about alternative treatments will be improved. Private health centers that offer alternative therapies will also be required to inform patients that these practices are ineffective. The third part will entail removing all alternative practices in health centers to ensure that only health professionals with proper qualifications will practice medicine. Lastly, universities in Spain will no longer be allowed to provide diplomas related to alternative medicine. Spain's Association to Protect Patients against Pseudo-scientific Therapies, a group which supports the project, released a list of alternative medical practices. Included in this list is acupuncture, in which the body is pricked with needles. Another practice is aromatherapy, which uses plant substances that can be inhaled or applied on the skin. However, the government has not yet officially confirmed what alternative treatments will be prohibited.