Naturopaths Are Given the Right to Prescribe Medication

By: Dr. Aaron Hoo | March 7, 2010

In April 2009, then Minister of Health, the Honourable George Abbott announced the approval of the revised Naturopathic Physicians Regulations which aimed to increase patient choice and provide better access to health services for British Columbians. Under the revised regulations, practitioners with additional training will be able to administer, prescribe and dispense pharmaceutical medications as appropriate to their primary care practices.

This landmark decision puts British Columbia as the first Canadian province that recognizes the role Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) play as primary health care providers; furthermore, it underscores the benefits to patients when NDs are permitted to practice according to the comprehensive extent of their education and training. According to Dr. Christoph Kind, ND and president of the BC Naturopathic Association, “The BC Government has recognized the value of enhancing naturopathic services as a choice in the health care system for primary care to patients….[this] allows for more effective multi-disciplinary treatment of patients and reduces the impact to and costs on the health care system.”

The new regulations are timely as previously, many “traditional” substances such as some herbs, amino acids, hormones and high dose vitamins (all of which had been utilized by NDs for decades in the treatment of patients) were being “scheduled” by Health Canada, thereby limiting their availability to NDs. As drug laws changed through the decades, the scheduling of preparations effectively reduced the traditional naturopathic formulary of available medicines. This would be analogous to a medical doctor losing his/her ability to prescribe antibiotics or to order diagnostic tests, thereby severely affecting their ability to practice medicine effectively.

In essence, NDs are educated to diagnose and treat patients effectively, including the use of clinical judgment as to when to prescribe certain prescription medications. Ultimately, the changes are the culmination of extensive reviews of the benefits and evidence of science-based naturopathic treatments with the bottom line being improved patient care and reduction of health-care costs to taxpayers.

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About the Author:

Dr. Aaron Hoo - Dr. Aaron Christopher Hoo graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Aaron has a private medical practice in downtown Vancouver and travels across North Ameri...
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