The Cyprus Physiotherapists’ Acupuncture Society (EBFK), the official scientific body of the Cyprus Physiotherapists’ Association for acupuncture matters, expresses strong concern and opposition, warning of severe consequences for public health if the bill is passed.
The Society notes that it was not invited to any stage of consultation—something it describes as “institutionally unacceptable, scientifically dangerous, and unethical”.
If approved by the Plenary, the attempt would make Cyprus “a negative exception and a laughingstock in Europe”, undermine evidence-based medicine, and “open the back door” to anti-vaccination and pseudoscientific beliefs within the health system.
Concerns About Naturopathy Being Elevated to a Regulated Health Profession
EBFK argues that the bill attempts to establish “naturopathy” as a health profession using acupuncture as a legislative “vehicle and Trojan horse”. It stresses that naturopathy is not a recognised health profession in Europe, is not based on evidence-based diagnostic practices, falls under alternative/complementary methods rather than regulated health sciences, and does not correspond to university-level health science education.
Institutionally elevating naturopathy to a “health service” creates a serious risk of misleading the public, who may reasonably believe it to be a profession scientifically equivalent to doctors and physiotherapists.
Danger of Anti-Scientific and Anti-Vaccination Narratives
According to the Society, the proposed legislation would create space for anti-scientific and anti-vaccination viewpoints to infiltrate the state’s health policies, both within and outside GHS, since anti-vaccination ideology is a core element of the worldview of certain naturopathy advocates.
EBFK aligns with the Cyprus Medical Association, highlighting concerns regarding the introduction of terms such as “energy”, “meridians”, “energetic diagnosis”, and “iridology”. The CMA has already warned that introducing practices without demonstrated safety or effectiveness moves the system away from evidence-based medicine and the standards of the scientific method.
International Positions and Local Risks
The Society recalls that independent oversight bodies in Greece and elsewhere have publicly categorised naturopathy as pseudoscience. In Cyprus, supporters of naturopathy were actively involved in anti-vaccination campaigns during the pandemic, holding positions in direct conflict with the global scientific community.
The bill, EBFK states, would legitimise anti-scientific positions, placing public health and public trust in the health system at immediate risk.
Impact on Existing Regulated Acupuncture Practice
EBFK emphasises that physiotherapists in Cyprus perform biomedical acupuncture based on scientific evidence, with medical diagnosis and/or specialised physiotherapy assessment, grounded in anatomy, physiology, and neurophysiology, within a strictly regulated professional framework.
The bill disregards this already established and European-harmonised framework and creates dangerous confusion for the public.
Final Call for Withdrawal of the Bill
Based on the above, EBFK calls on the House Health Committee to invite the Society to formal consultation and on Parliament to proceed with a categorical withdrawal of the bill. It also urges the state to ensure that any future regulation of acupuncture and complementary practices aligns fully with European standards, scientific evidence, and the positions of all regulated health professions.