Switzerland

The European Foundation of Traditional Complementary Integrative Medicine (FEMTCI) is an international institution created in 1989 that, as a private foundation, has as its main objectives the promotion, dissemination, teaching, research and defense of the practice of Chinese medicine at national and international level, under the criteria of quality and scientific rigor. Its mission is to help normalize this millenary discipline in the legal, teaching and assistance framework, ensuring that Chinese medicine is recognized in different countries and at university level.

The Foundation has the support of important and prestigious institutions of Chinese medicine. Initially, it was created by Chinese and Spanish institutions, although today, it has reached collaboration agreements and has joined different prestigious international institutions around the world, working for the same objective as the FEMTC: recognition, development, internationalization and standardization of Chinese medicine.

Legal situation in Switzerland

In Switzerland healthcare professionals are regulated by the laws of each individual canton or region (Switzerland has a total of 26 cantons). Licenses for the practice of acupuncture and Tuina as well as Chinese drug therapy are granted by the cantons, currently very different conditions apply. The laws regarding the practice of acupuncture and Chinese medicine by therapists range from prohibitions to legal practice of all modalities to no regulations at all. The situation now is changing to stronger regulations:  Since the year 2000, the TCM association Switzerland, together with other associations of complementary medicine, began to strive for federal professional regulation. In the year 2015, the State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI) approved the Higher Professional Examination in order that TCM practitioners obtain a federal diploma as “Naturheilpraktiker” with specialization in TCM.

The practice of Chinese herbal medicine today isn’t regulated in most cantons. Since January 2001, herbal substances have been regarded as medicines by the federal government medicines agency Swissmedic. Thus, in theory, only therapists with legal permission to prescribe and administer Chinese medicines can legally practise Chinese herbal medicine. With the new national health law coming in 2019, the presciption will soon only be allowed for therapists with the national title and for therapists, that already have an existing permission in one of the cantons, with a few exceptions.

Doctors (MD) can practice acupuncture and Chinese herbs in all cantons. If they want to be reimbursed for acupuncture by the compulsory health insurance they need to have an ASA-Fähigkeitsausweis, a certificate which requires a minimum education time of 360 hours in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Insurance reimbursement

In addition to compulsory health insurance for all swiss residents, there is the option of private supplementary insurance in Switzerland. The supplementary insurance reimburses services in the fields of CAM (Complimentary Medicine), Dental Services, Non-Psychic Psychotherapy etc. TCM is covered by the supplementary health insurances for about 70-90% of the cost. Acupuncture treatment by medical doctors is covered by compulsory health insurance.

A-Member (Full member): fully licensed therapists who meet with the requirements of the TCM-FVS or OdA AM in at least one oft he following: acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese dietary therapy, tuina massage therapy

B-Member (Students): Persons studying to become Chinese medical health professionals

C-Members (Students): Students who have completed modules M1-M5 and who are in a final phase (Phase C / Phase III) of the internship (M6)

D-Members (other therapists): D-members are therapists who practice TCM but do not meet the requirements for A, B or C membership. D members benefit from the network and various services

Required continuing education
45 hours every two years

Requirements for continuing membership
Done with continuing education requirements

Becoming a member
Detailed requirements and application procedure as well as all forms can be downloaded in French and German at https://tcm-fachverband.ch/mitgliedschaften/