Review article
Non-Conventional Medicine in Italy: The present situation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2009.04.002Get rights and content

Abstract

This article provides a brief overview of the current situation in Italy regarding the diffusion and regulation of Non-Conventional Medicine (NCM). In Italy the use of NCM is spreading among the population as in the rest of Europe. Sales of alternative remedies are growing, and likewise the number of MDs who practice NCM. However, in Italy, unlike in other countries of the European Union, at the present time the juridical/legal status of NCM is not well established, mainly due to the lack of any national law regulating NCM professional training, practice and public delivery, not to mention the absence of government-promoted scientific research in this field. After procrastinating for 20 years, the Italian Parliament is therefore urged to legislate without further delay and approve a full-scale national law on Non-Conventional Medicine to protect citizens’ safety and freedom of choice.

Section snippets

Epistemological bearings: Why we prefer talking about Non-Conventional Medicine

For years the World Health Organization has defined Non-Conventional Medicine (NCM) as “Traditional Medicine” in deference to the nations and cultures where such forms of medicine are an integral part of the cultural and medical heritage (for instance, China's and India's cultural traditions) [1]. Traditional Medicine is the sum total of indigenous knowledge used in the maintenance of health in these countries; however, wrongly, in Western countries the terms “Traditional Medicine” and

Diffusion of NCM among patients and practitioners in Italy

On 21st August 2007, the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT) published the results of its latest multi-purpose survey, “Non Conventional Therapies in Italy” [7], [8]. The survey related to the year 2005 and took a cross-section of some 60,000 families. The macroscopic finding was that 13.6% of the Italian population (around 8 million) said they had used NCM in the past three years. This means that five years on from the previous ISTAT poll (1999) no less than eight million Italians

The role of Professional Associations and the need for professional training

Seven years have elapsed since the National Council of the Italian National Federation of Colleges of MDs and Dentists (FNOMCeO), taking cognizance of Resolution 1206 of the Council of Europe, 4th November 1999, “On the status of Non Conventional Medicine”, recognized nine such NCMs for their social importance: acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, ayurvedic medicine, homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, homotoxicology, phytotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. These practices are seen as

Legal status of non conventional medicine in Italy

The Italian Republic protects health as a fundamental right of the individual, safeguards the principle of scientific pluralism and ensures that the individual is free to choose treatments and that health providers are professionally qualified, with special focus on the independence of MDs as regards the choice of treatment (Suprema Corte di Cassazione, the Italian Supreme Court of Justice, 4th Section, Sentence no. 301, February 8th, 2001). The Italian national health service was established

Regional initiatives

Important initiatives have recently been taken by many regions after the reform of clause V of the Italian Constitution, to the effect that the regions should bear joint legislative jurisdiction with regard to the “professions”. Since the lack of a national law governing NCM makes access to these practices unequal, some regions such as Tuscany have included a chapter on NCM in their regional health plans: acupuncture is guaranteed as an approved regional healthcare standards (LEA), patients are

Regulation of pharmaceutical products in Italy

In 2006, Italy received the European Directive on Drugs 2004/27/CE, which contains five specific articles on homeopathy and anthroposophic medication taking account of the production and control features peculiar to these two classes of drugs. The fact that the Italian government has received the Directive means, at least, that such homeopathic and anthroposophic drugs presently on the Italian market remain legitimate until 2015. There is, however, an unaccountable failure as yet to introduce a

Current developments in Europe and in Italy

In Brussels on 08th November 2005 at the EU Open Health Forum for Stakeholders “Health Challenges and Future Strategy”, organised by the European Commission – DG Health and Consumer Protection, the following manifesto on NCM was signed and presented to the European Commission: “This morning we have been talking about subjects such as putting patients’ concerns higher on the agenda and protecting them from health threats. If we realise that: there is a growing demand among the European citizens

Final commentary

Looking at these data, the need for more political attention in Italy to the social demand for NCM and to the problem of regulating NCM practice becomes evident, not only to protect patients’ safety and their right to choose how to take care of themselves but also to prevent the rise of new social and geographical inequalities in the access to non conventional therapies. NCM should not remain an opportunity for the educated and rich alone but must be known and made accessible to everyone who

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest declared.

References (26)

  • G. Cocconi

    Attitudes to, and practice of, unconventional medicine by physicians in Italy

    Eur J Intern Med

    (2006)
  • E. Rossi et al.

    Homeopathy and complementary medicine in Tuscany, Italy: integration in the public health system

    Homeopathy

    (2008)
  • WHO. Traditional Medicines Strategy: 2002–2005. Geneva 2002....
  • M.S. Goldstein

    The growing acceptance of complementary and alternative medicine

  • Maddalena S. Alternative medicines: on the way towards Integration? A comparative legal analysis in western countries....
  • FNOMCeO. Linee Guida sulle Medicine e Pratiche Non Convenzionali. Consiglio Nazionale. Terni, 2002....
  • Giarelli G, Roberti di Sarsina P, Silvestrini B, editors. Le medicine non convenzionali in Italia. Storia, problemi e...
  • Roberti di Sarsina P, Iseppato I. Looking for a person-centred medicine: non conventional medicine in the conventional...
  • ISTAT, Le terapie non convenzionali in Italia-Anno 2005. 〈www.istat.it〉 2007...
  • F. Menniti-Ippolito et al.

    Caratteristiche individuali e familiari degli utilizzatori di terapie non convenzionali in Italia

    Ann Ist Super Sanità

    (2004)
  • M. Giannelli et al.

    General practitioners’ knowledge and practice of complementary/alternative medicine and its relationship with life-styles: a population-based survey in Italy

    BMC Fam Pract

    (2007)
  • S. Zaffani et al.

    Herbal products: behaviors and beliefs among Italian women

    Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf

    (2006)
  • Cuzzolin L, Benoni G, Attitudes and knowledge toward natural products safety in the pharmacy setting: an Italian study....
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text