简介：NewZealandersareincreasinglyembracingAcupunctureandChineseMedicine.AsurveyofGeneralPractitionersin2006showedthatnearly80%ofthosesurveyedwouldrefertheirpatientsontoanAcupuncturistfortreatment.ThenationalinjuryinsuranceschemethroughtheAccidentCompensationCommission(ACC)hasfundedpartialpaymentofAcupuncturetreatmentsince1990.In2007,theMinisterofHealthapprovedAcupuncturetoberecognizedundertheHealthPractitionersCompetenceAssurance(HPCA)ActbutfollowingareviewoftheAct,thedecisionwasoverturned.TheNewZealandGovernmenthasdecidedtoadoptthesamecriteriaforregistrationofhealthprofessionsasAustraliaandourprofessionhasbeenaskedtoresubmitshowingthatwemeetthenewcriteria.Althoughdisappointing,wenowhavetheopportunitytotakeChinesemedicine,includingbothAcupunctureandChineseHerbalMedicinethroughtoregistration,thesameasourcolleaguesinAustralia.ChineseMedicinehasbeenapprovedfornationalregistrationinAustraliaandtheschemewillbegininJuly2012.ItishopedthatweinNewZealandwillbeabletofollowasimilartimeline.Inthepast,thoseNewZealanderswishingtostudyAcupunctureorChineseMedicinehadtotraveloverseastodoso.Wenowhavetwowellestablishedschools,eachwithtwocampuses,deliveringaBachelorDegreeinHealthScience.TheNewZealandRegisterofAcupuncturistsisthelargestandlongestestablishedprofessionalbodyrepresentingAcupuncturistsandpractitionersofChineseMedicineinNewZealand.Themajorityofourmemberstrainedoverseas-largelyinChinabutalsoinAustralia,Korea,AmericaortheUK-butthisdemographicisrapidlychangingasmorestudentsgraduatefromourlocalschools.Withincreasingnumbersofpractitionersandgreaterawarenessbythegeneralpublic,AcupunctureandChineseMedicinearefirmlyestablishedaspartofthehealthcaresysteminNewZealand.Registrationoftheprofessionisthenextimportantstepinensuringthatst

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