BR-Chinese-Medicine

VANCOUVER — Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and students are protesting against plans by the B-C government to deregulate the prescribing, compounding, and dispensing of Chinese medicine.

Doctor John Yang, chair of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Traditional Chinese Medicine program, says the changes coming into effect in April could endanger public safety by allowing untrained personnel to prescribe herbal treatments.

He says some herbal medicine is harmful if used in excessive doses for a prolonged period of time, and only a licensed practitioner understands how to navigate different ingredients and apply correct dosages.

The Ministry of Health is preparing to implement the changes in the new Health Professions and Occupations Act.

Prescribing and dispensing traditional Chinese medicine is currently a restricted activity for licensed practitioners.

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Yang, who organized a protest being held under pouring rain outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, says the goal is to raise awareness and make their concerns heard by the province.

B-C became the first province to require traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to register in 2003.

The Canadian Press