Finland

According to the Classical Acupuncture Association, every person providing acupuncture treatments must have the required education and qualifications in Chinese medicine and a sufficient amount of studies in the anatomy, physiology and pathology of Western medicine.

Acupuncturists included in the Classical Acupuncture Association’s therapist register have a 3.5-year Chinese medicine education that meets the association’s requirements. In addition, those included in the register ensure regular continuing education that maintains and improves their professional skills. Acupuncturists included in the register are committed to following the ethical guidelines of the Classical Acupuncture Association. All those included in the register have professional liability insurance.

Those included in the therapist register have demonstrated in writing that they meet the requirements of the register. The board of the Classical Acupuncture Association monitors the qualifications of the therapists.

Regulation  – There is no law concerning TCM practitioners in Finland. Anyone who has an adequate training can use acupuncture, moxa, cupping, herbal therapy or other TCM modalities. The total number of practitioners is unknown.

Legal status – The Finnish Social and Health Ministry is in a process of creating a law for all alternative medicine practitioners in Finland. At 2008 three major Finnish TCM Associations formed and registered an umbrella organisation called Suomen kiinalaisen lääketieteen liitto ry. (SKILL) (Finnish Chinese Medicine Union).

Insurance reimbursement  – National insurance covers part of the acupuncture treatment done by medical doctors and physiotherapists. Treatments carried out by non-medical acupuncturists are not covered. Some private insurances occasionally cover treatments done by non-medical acupuncturists.