The legal status of anthroposophic medicine in selected countries
IVAA: Legal status of anthroposophic medicine. January 2017
The following document provides an overview of the legal status of anthroposophic medicine in selected countries.
Anthroposophic medicine is an integrative medical system founded in the early 1920’s. It is practiced by physicians, in collaboration with nurses, pharmacists and psychologists, all of who are fully licensed in their country and have completed additional training in anthroposophic medicine. Anthroposophic therapists in anthroposophic art therapy, eurythmy therapy and different anthroposophic body therapies have completed the respective anthroposophic training and may have a state diploma in art therapy, complementary therapy or other, depending on the country situation. Anthroposophic medicine is practiced in integration with conventional medicine in outpatient practices and hospitals.
The legal status and integration into national health system varies greatly between countries and is currently strongest in Brazil, Germany and Switzerland. Efforts and successes in obtaining official status in a given country have depended on factors such as government willingness to adopt such regulations, size of anthroposophic practitioner community, time since introduction of anthroposophic medicine in a country and possibility to practice anthroposophic medicine with or without official recognition.