FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
Patient Choice
1. How will regulation
improve the public's access to the homeopathy of their choice?
The transitional
Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario (TC-CHO) is setting
requirements for entry to the profession. The TC-CHO
is responsible for registering homeopaths, setting standards of
practice and guidelines for professional practice, monitoring
homeopaths competence through a quality assurance program,
investigating complaints and reports against homeopaths and
disciplining those registrants who have committed acts of
professional misconduct or who are incompetent or incapacitated.
These processes protect the public interest.
The public will
have access to a full public register of homeopaths in the province
of Ontario including the name, business address and business
telephone number of any homeopath and every homeopathic corporation.
The public register will also include any terms, conditions and
limitations affecting a individual homeopath's ability to
practice and the results of any disciplinary or incapacity
proceedings. This process ensures public confidence that homeopaths
meet the required education, training and competency standards, and
keeps them safe from harm. The regulatory framework also provides
the public with a mechanism for complaints and resolution if they
are not satisfied with their care.
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Regulatory Framework
1. What is the
transitional Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario
(TC-CHO)?
It is NOT an
educational institution or an advocacy association.
Under
the Ontario law, the TC-CHO will set up the process to regulate the
profession of homeopathy, in the public interest. Once the process
is put in place it is the ONLY organization that assesses applicants
and determines who is qualified to practise homeopathy in Ontario.
Under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), any
organization that falsely holds itself out as a body that regulates
individuals in homeopathic practise would be liable to a fine of not
more than $50,000 for a first offence and not more than $200,000 for
a second or subsequent offence. This includes organizations claiming
to assess and/or certify individuals' competencies for the purpose
of practising homeopathy in Ontario.
2.
What does the Homeopathy Act, 2007 do?
The Homeopathy Act,
2007 establishes the College of Homeopaths of Ontario that will be
responsible for governing the profession to ensure the public is
protected and the public interest is served.
It sets out:
- The scope of practice
of homeopathy is defined as "...the assessment of body system
disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote,
maintain or restore health";
- Title protection
authorizing only registrants to use the title "homeopath", a
variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another
language;
- The composition of
the Council;
And it
empowers:
- Appointment of the
transitional Council and Registrar by the Lieutenant Governor in
Council;
- The transitional
Council and Registrar to do anything that is necessary to
implement the Homeopathy Act, 2007 and the RHPA.
3. Now that the
Homeopathy Act, 2007 has received Royal Assent, can I claim to be a
regulated health professional?
No. A practitioner can
only make that claim once they are registered with transitional
Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario.
4.
What is the role of the transitional Council?
During the transitional
period, the transitional Council is responsible for establishing the
College of Homeopaths of Ontario. It also exercises the powers of a
council of a health regulatory college. It carries out the statutory
objectives of a college to serve and protect the public interest as
set out in the Homeopathy Act, 2007, the RHPA, 1991 and the Health
Professions Procedural Code. It will:
- Establish an
accountability agreement with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care (MOHLTC);
- Establish, in
collaboration with the Registrar, administrative processes and the
infrastructure necessary for the College to operate;
- Develop by-laws,
professional ethics, policies and guidelines;
- Develop competencies
and practice standards, and registration, professional misconduct,
and quality assurance regulations;
- Develop processes to
assess and register applicants;
- Develop processes to
handle complaints and the discipline of registrants;
- Develop communication
programs to reach the profession, public and other
stakeholders.
5. Who sits on the
transitional Council?
The appointees to
the transitional Council, both public and professional, are made by
the Ontario Government, or more specifically, by the Lieutenant
Governor in Council, with the process itself being administered by
the Public Appointments Secretariat, an agent of the Ontario
Government. The current transitional Council is comprised
of eight homeopathic professionals and six public
appointees.
Selection of an
individual for appointment to the transitional Council is based on
the person's expertise, knowledge and experience. The individual may
have clinical or academic expertise in the practice of homeopathy,
health professional regulation, and health or public administration
sector. Persons with a demonstrated interest or experience in public
service may also be appointed. Each is expected to serve in his/her
individual capacity rather than as a representative of any
organization or any interest/advocacy group to which they may
belong. Appointments may be for a one or two year term.
Individuals may be reappointed.
The transitional
Council is time limited. It exists until it has developed a
framework to permit the College to fully undertake its regulatory
functions. At that time the transitional Council will cease to exist
and the regular Council of the College will be established. The new
Council will be comprised of up to nine professionals elected
from the College membership by the registrants themselves. There
will also be up to eight public appointees.
6. What is the role of
the Registrar?
The Registrar is the
chief operating officer and administrator of the TC-CHO, reporting
to the transitional Council and the MOHLTC and supporting the
transitional Council in developing and implementing policies, bylaws
and regulations governing the practice of homeopathy. The Registrar
is also responsible for the day-to-day operations and has statutory
duties under the RHPA, 1991.
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Registration
1. When do I need to register with the TC-CHO?
Homeopathic
practitioners must register with TC-CHO when the Homeopathy Act,
2007 is in full force. While the full force of the Homeopathy Act,
2007 is anticipated to take place in 2014, the transitional
Council will begin accepting applications in late 2013.
Once the College of
Homeopaths of Ontario and the Homeopathy Act, 2007 are in full
force, a person cannot call him or her self a homeopath, advertise
as such, and/or hold them self out as a homeopath, unless
registered.
Please take note that
current HOMEOPATHY business practices will change once regulation
occurs and the Homeopathy Act, 2007 comes into full force. The
TC-CHO will work with homeopaths and other stakeholders to
facilitate a smooth transition. Practitioners are encouraged to pay
close attention to the activities announced on the TC-CHO website to
prepare for eventual registration. Please sign up for
our "Information Alert Service" to help keep up-to-date on important
registration information.
2.
How do I register with TC-CHO?
The transitional
Council will advise practitioners of the qualifications,
competencies, procedures, categories, fees, documentation and other
requirements necessary for registration application in late 2013.
TC-CHO is working to make sure that the registration process is fair
and efficient.
3.
Will there be a full-time and part-time registration fee?
The transitional
Council will consider and determine which classes and fees are
appropriate.
4.
What will happen if I do not register with TC-CHO?
Once the College of
Homeopaths of Ontario and the Homeopathy Act, 2007 are in full
force, a person cannot call him or her self a homeopath, advertise
as such, and/or hold them self out as a homeopath, unless
registered. To do otherwise will be illegal. Anyone found
guilty could face a fine of not more than $25,000 for a first
offence and up to $50,000 for subsequent offenses. One could also be
imprisoned for one year, or be fined and imprisoned. These offense
provisions are set out in the RHPA and are common to all regulated
health professions.
Further, any person
using the title "homeopath", a variation or abbreviation or an
equivalent in another language while not being registered with the
College, or who claim to be a "Doctor" of homeopathy, could face a
fine of up to $25,000 for a first offense and up to $50,000 for
subsequent offenses.
5.
Does membership in an association or organization mean automatic
registration with TC-CHO?
NO, membership to an
association will NOT mean automatic registration with TC-CHO.
Registration is based on whether an individual practitioner meets
the TC-CHO's registration qualifications, competencies and other
requirements.
6.
Will TC-CHO be grandparenting current practitioners?
Grandparenting refers
to the process of registering practicing homeopaths who meet the
registration qualifications and other requirements determined at the
time of proclamation and when TC-CHO begins to process applications.
Additional standards or requirements may be implemented after the
initial registration period.
The transitional
Council is determining how to register current practitioners
and students who are currently enrolled in educational programs.
Public safety, however, will be the number one priority when it
comes to considering policies on grandparenting.
7. Will TC-CHO offer
registration examinations?
The transitional
Council is considering the kinds
of assessments needed to place public safety as the
priority. This includes reviewing a variety of assessment tools, and
to determine a fair and transparent process for assessing and
registering members.
8.
How will regulation affect naturopaths who practice
homeopathy?
There are a number of
health care professionals who practice homeopathy in conjunction
with their primary form of service. The transitional Council, in
consultation with practitioners and other regulatory boards, will
develop policies regarding the matter of dual registration.
9.
Will the Ontario Health Insurance Plan now cover homeopathic
services?
The regulation of a
profession does not confer a duty on the government to pay for its
services. Only a few of the regulated health professions are funded
by OHIP on a fee for service basis. Private insurance carriers may
choose to cover homeopathic care and employers may provide benefits
through extended health care plans. The decision to cover services
is at the discretion of the employer and insurance carrier.
10. Will every TC-CHO registrant be required to
practice in English or French?
Reasonable fluency in
English or French is important since it is necessary for
communication with other health care professionals, hospitals,
community health institutions and to understand the laws governing
the health care system in Ontario and Canada.
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Use of
Title
1. My education grants me the right to use the
"doctor" title. Does this new legislation allow me to use the title
"doctor"?
Practitioners of
homeopathy cannot use the "doctor" title, a variation
or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language when providing
or offering to provide health care in Ontario.
Currently, under
section 33 of the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), no
one is allowed to use the title "doctor", its variation or
abbreviation or an equivalent in another language when providing or
offering to provide health care in Ontario, unless he/she is
a registrant of:
(a) the College of
Chiropractors of Ontario; (b) the College of Optometrists of
Ontario; (c) the College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario; (d) the College of Psychologists of Ontario; or
(e) the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.
A person who breaches
section 33 may be prosecuted in the Provincial Offences Act Court.
If the person is convicted, he/she is liable to a fine of not more
than $25,000 for a first offence and not more than $50,000 for a
second or subsequent offence.
When the Homeopathy
Act, 2007 is proclaimed into force full, the registered title
will be "homeopath."
To see the full text of
section 33 of the RHPA click here.
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Information for
Students or Prospective Students
1. When registration becomes mandatory, how will
TC-CHO deal with students who are in the middle of their educational
programs?
The transitional
Council is determining how it will approach the registration of
students who are in the middle of their programs, more details will
be available during the upcoming consultation process. The Council
is required to consider public safety as the number one priority
when considering registration issues.
2. I have heard that
some organizations are claiming that their program will lead to
registration with the regulatory body. Is this true?
NO, this claim is
false. Once the registration regulation is
finalized homeopathic education institutes will be encouraged
to set their program curriculum to
meet or exceed the regulatory requirements.
3.
I would like to enroll in a homeopathic program; how can I be sure
that the program is recognized and my rights will be
protected?
TC-CHO is currently in
a transition phase. During this time, the transitional Council
is developing regulations and policies, including setting
entry-to-practice requirements and standards of practice, in order
to register homeopathic practitioners. Once the transitional Council
completes this initial work, TC-CHO will be able to evaluate the
educational qualifications of individual applicants. Until then it
is not possible to say which programs or courses, if any, will be
recognized.
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information. |
Transitional Council of the College of
Homeopaths of Ontario 163
Queen Street East, 4th Floor Toronto, ON M5A
1S1 Tel: 416 862 4780
Toll Free: 1-877-883-8083 Fax: 416 874 4077 E-mail:
info@collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca |
We accept
invitations to speak on the regulation of the homeopathic
profession in Ontario and the role of the transitional
Council. If you wish to invite us to your function, please
call the office. Website Privacy Policy ©2009 Transitional
Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario. All rights
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