Australian Universities still set to offer complementary therapy degrees

Universities come under fire for continuing to offer non-medical therapy degree courses. 

Recently, universities around the globe have come under fire for continuing to offer alternative and complementary therapy courses despite worries over their efficacy and safety.

However, universities in Australia are to continue offering these courses – including Chinese medicine and acupuncture – despite increasing pressure to move away from offering training in non-medical therapies.

Whilst scientific research covering alternative and complementary therapies is lacking in comparison to that of western medicine, many experts believe that there is still a place for a full range of health options argue that Eastern medicine also has a role to play in modern treatment.

Many of the courses in question are four-year degree programmes, and dedicate a sizeable proportion of the study to Western science and research.

Complementary and alternative therapy experts have also argued that removing courses such as these would be likely to have a detrimental effect on public health, increasing the risk of individuals who have not undergone adequate training carrying out treatments.

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