Standardisation of acupuncture training in the Philippines: An assessment of WHO guidelines

In 1996, the World Health Organization published "Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture". Heretofore, it has been assumed that these guidelines were appropriate for the standardisation of acupuncture in all country contexts. This study assesses the appropriateness of these guidelines and the outcomes in adopting these guidelines for a standardised curriculum for acupuncture for the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines. The author both designed a standardised curriculum for the certification of biomedical practitioners in acupuncture in the Philippines and assessed the outcomes of the implementation of this standardised curriculum.

A sample of 150 physicians, nurses and allied health workers were trained in a standardised acupuncture curriculum over one year. Their ability to progress through the curriculum was assessed through standardised written and practical examination at the end of each two-week course of a three course training. The number of students who completed the full 6 weeks of training and were practising was compared to the number of students who did not complete the full training and were practising. The appropriateness of standardised training was further assessed through interview with regulatory stakeholders in the Department of Health.

The successful implementation of a standardised curriculum for acupuncture adhering to WHO guidelines is a function of government regulation and enforcement of such training through certification. Standardisation of acupuncture training can be understood to be challenged in the Philippines by virtue of the lack of power by the regulatory body for acupuncture certification to enforce such regulations, as well as by virtue of a decentralised healthcare system.