How to practice Homoeopathy, Ayurveda and other complimentary medicines in Qatar

All homoeopathy and Complimentary Medicine practitioners should apply for registration/licensing through electronic system immediately. Practitioners who do not fulfil the current registration/licencing requirements will be granted a grace period of 10months starting the date of issuance of this circular (03.02.2016) to settle their situation. Accordingly, any unqualified CM practitioner will not be permitted to practice legally, and will be prohibited from QCHP’s registry

If you have any questions, please contact
Dr Souma El-Torky
seltorky@sch.gov.qa

Ministry of Health building
The old SCH building, Rumaila, near Hamad Medical city

Basic qualification for Homoeopathy
Professional degree of BHMS- Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery  of not less than 5 years including internship. Current licence/registration to practice in home or last employment country.’

Experience : 1. Not less than 2 years after internship

OR

3 years full time certified accredited homoeopathy programme

Current licence/registration to practice in home or last employment country ‘

Experience :  Not less than 4 years after completion of course

Ayurveda

Approved Ayurveda degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution. • Current license to practice in home country or country of last employment. Current license/ Registration to practice in home country or country of last employment.
Experience : Recent practice (no interruption in the practice for more than two years).

OR
Licensure from an accredited Ayurveda Medicine program over a period of three to four years full time/ equivalent, comprising not less than 2500 hours (classroom theory and practical sessions) followed by 500 hours of supervised internship training.

Experience: Not less than 4 years after completion of the course.

To register onto the Registration/Licensing Electronic System –
New Applicant:

1) Visit the website – http://www.qchp.org.qa/en/Pages/default.aspx

2) Click “Login to Medical Licensing Registration system “

3) Click “Sign Up for New Applicant”

4) Enter all the mandatory details (indicates by *) and click “Sign Up” button (Make sure the Email id is valid since you will need to activate it after the account has been created)

As per the circular number 2/2016 by Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP)
Homeopathy ‐ means treating like with like. The theory of homeopathy is based on three principles: • The “law of similar” which states that a substance that can cause disease in a well person can cure similar symptoms in the diseased; • The “principle of the minimum dose,” which states that by diluting a substance, its curative properties are enhanced and its side effects minimized.• Prescribing for the individual, which advocates basing treatment not only on the medical diagnosis but also the patient’s temperament, personality and emotional and physical responses.

Scope of practice
Physical examination and requested laboratory examinations consistent with their education and training, for diagnostic purposes, including clinical laboratory tests and physiological function tests;

• Request diagnostic imaging studies consistent with their license;
• Administer or order homeopathic medicines (pharmaceutical dosage form) and ‘over the counter’ medicines registered with SCH approved products list.
• Provide nutritional, dietary and preventive medicine advice.

 General Principals & Guidelines of Practice for Complementary Medicine Practitioners

1. Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners permits Complementary Medicine (CM) practitioners to act as a portal of entry and provide healthcare services limited to their area of training and expertise.
2. CM practitioners need to recognize that they are holding themselves out to practice within a system of law and medicine which will review the standard of care that has been taken in relation to a patient.
3. Provide healthcare services consistent with and in accordance with the scope of qualifications and training.
4. Consider the health and wellbeing of the patient and have an understanding of the therapeutic nature of the patient and practitioner relationship.
5. Treat patients with compassion, respect and have an appreciation of the diversity of human background and cultural values.
6. CM practitioners should ensure that their practice and procedures are well defined and transparent, they operate in a way that is fair and hygienic and that all efforts to ensure standards of good medical practice are involved.
7. CM practitioners should be aware of the extent and limits of their specialty. They should be able to identify and refer patients to medically qualified physicians and specialists when necessary. A patient showing signs and symptoms of an underlying pathological condition should be advised to seek a medical diagnosis.
8. The practitioner should assist the patients in weighing the possible benefits and risks of other types of treatment, helping them to consider conventional diagnostic procedures; routine screening tests etc., acknowledging the usefulness of such procedures at appropriate times, even for those who may wish to avoid conventional treatment.
9. CM practitioners may make a medical diagnosis and/or diagnosis according to the science and philosophy of their field of training/specialty. However when discovering dysfunctions, they should also mention any believed disorder and advise the patient to see the medical doctor for further advice and/or treatment outside the scope of his/her practice.
10. Provide assistance to patients in emergency situations, to the greatest extent permitted by training and circumstances (ILS course).
11. CM practitioners are not allowed to treat patients with acute or critical conditions who need immediate emergency medical care. They should not perform any surgical
12. 12.CM practitioners should be aware of those diseases which are notifiable under the law and should direct the patient to go to the emergency or to medically qualified physicians.
13. CM practitioners are not allowed to treat communicable diseases.
14. CM Practitioner is allowed to advise his/her patients to use ‘over counter’ registered CM products within his/her scope of practice.
15. CM practitioners are not allowed to dispense any remedies unless registered with SCH approved products list.
16. The Practitioner should not alter a medical doctor’s prescription to the patient.
17. When a patient’s health improves as a result of complementary treatment, the practitioner should not reduce the dosage or stop their prescribed medication. He should be aware that the responsibility for adjusting or withdrawing prescribed medication lies with the patient and the prescriber of that medication.
18. Claims, whether explicit or implied, orally or in writing implying cure of any named disease must be avoided.
19. CM practitioners must always balance their claims carefully while treating patients. They should consider the realistic chances of improvement and foresee the dangers of creating false hope and further disappointment.
20. CM practitioner should only use the professional title granted to him/her by the Registration Department/QCHP.
21. CM practitioners must act in the patient’s best interest when making referrals and when providing or arranging treatment or care. CM practitioners must not ask or accept any inducement, gift or hospitality which may affect or be seen to affect the way they prescribe for, treat or refer patients.
22. CM practitioners intending to undertake research must be familiar with and abide by current research ethics requirements, and statutory obligations regarding research.
23. Present information accurately and clearly to a patient in accordance with good professional practice.
24. Respect the patient’s right to make decisions about their healthcare.
25. Continue self‐education to maintain currency of healthcare services.
26. Maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with legal requirements.
27. Maintain professional reputation based on integrity and ability.
28. Maintain and keep accurate up‐to‐date patient records in a secure and confidential

Acknowledgment and Undertaking for Complementary Medicine

Name of Institution/Healthcare Facility: ________________________________________

I, the undersigned ___________________________________, the medical director of the Institution/Healthcare Facility hereby undertake that the Institution/Healthcare Facility shall be fully responsible for the quality of the services provided by our healthcare practitioners who have obtained a license in the Complementary Medicine (CM) profession by Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners. In the event of a medical error or negligence, QCHP will not be held liable in this regard. I also acknowledge that I am fully aware of the conditions mentioned below and on the next page, and that they will be shared with all the concerned parties (focal points and healthcare practitioners) as soon as they have been received and signed with all legal rights reserved to QCHP.

1. CM practitioners must provide healthcare services consistent with and in accordance with the scope of qualifications and training.
2. CM practitioners should ensure that their practice and procedures are well defined and transparent; they should operate in a way that is fair and hygienic and that all efforts to ensure standards of good medical practice are involved.
3. CM practitioners should be aware of the extent and limits of their specialty. They should be able to identify and refer patients to medically qualified physicians and specialists when necessary. A patient showing signs and symptoms of an underlying pathological condition should be advised to seek a medical diagnosis.
4. CM practitioners should assist the patients in weighing the possible benefits and risks of other types of treatment, helping them to consider conventional diagnostic procedures; routine screening tests etc., acknowledging the usefulness of such procedures at appropriate times, even for those who may wish to avoid conventional treatment.
5. CM practitioners may make a medical diagnosis and/or diagnosis according to the science and philosophy of their field of training/specialty. However when discovering dysfunctions, they should also mention any believed disorder and advise the patient to see the medical doctor for further advice and/or treatment outside the scope of his/her practice.
6. CM practitioners are not allowed to treat patients with acute or critical conditions who need immediate emergency medical care. They should not perform any surgical procedure or any inoculation or injections as well as blood withdrawal from patients (Except for cupping).
7. CM practitioners should be aware of those diseases which are notifiable under the law and should direct the patient to go to the emergency or to medically qualified physicians.
8. CM practitioners are not allowed to treat communicable diseases.
9. CM practitioners are not allowed to dispense any remedies unless registered with SCH approved products list.
10. CM practitioners should not alter a medical doctor’s prescription to the patient. When a patient’s health improves as a result of complementary treatment, the practitioner should not reduce the dosage or stop their prescribed medication. He should be aware that the responsibility for adjusting or withdrawing prescribed medication lies with the patient and the prescriber of that medication.
11. Claims, whether explicit or implied, orally or in writing implying cure of any named disease must be avoided.
12. CM practitioners must always balance their claims carefully while treating patients. They should consider the realistic chances of improvement and foresee the dangers of creating false hope and further disappointment.
13. CM practitioners should only use the professional title granted to him/her by the Registration Department of QCHP.
14. CM practitioners must act in the patient’s best interest when making referrals and when providing or arranging treatment or care. They must not ask or accept any inducement, gift or hospitality which may affect or be seen to affect the way they prescribe for, treat or refer patients.
15. CM practitioners should maintain patient confidentiality in accordance with legal requirements.
16. CM practitioners should maintain and keep accurate up‐to‐date patient records in a secure and confidential manner.
17. CM practitioners should abide by the policies and rules of the Registration Department of QCHP.

Source:

http://www.homeobook.com/qualification-and-experience-required-for-practicing-homoeopathy-and-ayurveda-in-qatar/