The Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) has started the implementation plan to regulate complementary medicine practices in Qatar.
The disciplines approved for practice in the country include hijama/wet cupping, chiropractic, homeopathy, ayurveda and acupuncture.
An awareness workshop will be held in the Ministry of Public Health on February 28 to advise complementary medicine practitioners who are interested in getting licensed in Qatar.
The workshop will provide guidance on the complementary medicine framework, registration requirements and how to apply on the registration/licensing electronic system.
Registration for the workshop can be done through melarini@sch.gov.qa by stating  the name, place of work (if any) and reason for attending the workshop.
Complementary medicine practitioners have already started applying through the QCHP’s registration/licensing electronic system.
Existing practitioners in Qatar will be given a grace period of 10 months to correct and fix their situation to become fully registered and permitted to practise legally in Qatar. However, they all have to apply for registration/evaluation first in the next two months, after which they will be given their grace period.
An ad-hoc advisory committee has been set up by the QCHP Board to review the regulatory framework, compile scientific evidence related to the regulation, safety and efficacy of complementary medicine practices as well as measure the scientific impacts and provide facts and figures in relation to the usage and the impact of complementary medicine within Qatar.
The decision to start regulating complementary medicine will provide a legal framework to ensure that the benefits of these practices could be enjoyed without unnecessary risks.
The regulatory framework will standardise the complementary medicine practice so that only licensed and qualified practitioners will be issued a medical licence and allowed to practice in Qatar.
The Ministry of Public Health, formerly known as the Supreme Council of Health, had issued a notification in January this year, approving the practice of complementary medicine namely hijama/wet cupping, chiropractic, homeopathy, ayurveda and acupuncture in the country.