Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (APA)

Overview:

Profession(s): Ayurvedic Medicine
Member Type(s): Ayurvedic Practitioners
Scope: National - United Kingdom
Formed: 2005
Registration No.: 05391909
Address: 23 Green Ridge, Brighton, BN1 5LT, UK
Phone: +44 (0)7983 124 950
Email: info@apa.uk.com
Website: www.apa.uk.com

Description:

The Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (APA) is a unifying professional association representing Ayurvedic practitioners throughout the United Kingdom.

Guided by the principles of inclusion, transparency and accountability, the APA is committed to supporting all Ayurvedic professionals in the UK in an enabling manner, which means that membership is granted to those with adequate education and training in Ayurveda, and that those who fall short of required standards are helped and encouraged to upgrade their qualifications and skills.

Mission/Aims:

The APA Vision Statement is:

"To facilitate the health, happiness and well-being of all, we manifest the truth of Ayurveda through Unity and Love".

Key Aims of the APA:

TO ESTABLISH Ayurveda as a distinct, credible and relevant system of traditional medicine in the UK.
TO HELP CREATE a regulatory environment in which the full range of Ayurvedic healthcare modalities can be authentically, safely and effectively practised .
TO EMPOWER Ayurvedic practitioners to deliver best practice solutions via a continuous programme of professional development.

Principal Activities:

In order to achieve its Key Aims, the APA is principally focusing on the following:

Statutory Regulation (SR):

Statutory regulation of Ayurveda as a distinct traditional system of medicine with access to a wide spectrum of healthcare modalities.
Establishing “Ayurvedic Practitioner” as the statutorily protected title of a fully qualified Ayurvedic healthcare professional.

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia:

Extension of the Medicine Act 1968 Section 12(1) to permit the use of non-herbal ingredients in traditional Ayurvedic medicinal preparations.
Re-assessment of presently banned or restricted Ayurvedic herbs .
Preserving the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia by promoting sustainable harvesting practices.

Education and Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

Encouraging and supporting UK Ayurvedic educational institutions to comply with, and to maintain, highest standards of education and training in order to produce competent Ayurvedic professionals in the UK.
Providing CPD programmes that enable Ayurvedic practitioners to maintain their registration with the regulatory council and to achieve the level of knowledge and professional expertise necessary to deliver best practice solutions in the prevention and treatment of disease.

Promotion of Ayurveda:

Educating key target audiences (regulatory policy-makers and consultation partners, media opinion leaders, existing and potential practitioners, existing and potential patients) about the safety and efficacy of the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Highlighting Ayurveda’s unique philosophy and the need for preservation of its authenticity in education and practice.
Promoting the relevance of Ayurvedic healthcare solutions in helping to improve the health and well-being of people in the UK.

Member Benefits:

Unite and network with other Ayurvedic practitioners.

Gain reduced-fee access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes including seminars, conferences and workshops with eminent Ayurvedic practitioners from the UK and abroad.

Benefit from having your clinic details displayed in the referral directory of the APA website.

Acquire appropriate medical malpractice and liability insurance through the reduced-rate APA policy for practitioners and therapists.

Receive information on approved manufacturers and suppliers of Ayurvedic products, as well as lists of currently approved herbal and non-herbal medicines.

Receive advice and guidance on safety, ethics and professional conduct issues.

Participate in the efforts to secure the future of Ayurveda by expressing your views to the UK government and policy makers via your APA representatives.

Stay informed about current legislation that impacts on Ayurveda in the UK and internationally.

Receive the APA Newsletter and stay up-to-date with current research in Ayurveda.

Training/Licensing/Certification:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

Studying the Art and Science of Ayurveda is a life-long process. No single course can teach everything, and a university degree is only the first step along the path. In order to really grasp the wisdom of Ayurveda, a firm commitment to ongoing study, self development and clinical exposure is required.

The APA welcomes all those eager to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Ayurveda (members and non-members alike) to attend our regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars. We endeavour to provide a varied programme of different topics and to invite speakers with both international teaching experience as well as clinical exposure in the West, so that the seminars are practically applicable to the UK context.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
European Herbal Practitioners Association (EHPA)

Partner Associations:
Ayurvedic Medical Association (AMA)
Maharishi Ayurvedic Practitioners Association (MAPA)
British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (BAAAP)
National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA)
Veband Europaeischer Ayurveda Therapeuten (VEAT)

Verification Criteria:

Members of the public who are in doubt about a practitioner's fitness to practise should find out whether the practitioner is registered as a full member with any professional association.