Current Regulation
The Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices was published in the Official Gazette dated 28 April 2026 and entered into force.
The Regulation on Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices, prepared by the Ministry of Health, was published in the Official Gazette dated 28 April 2026 and numbered 33237 and entered into force. The regulation includes important provisions regarding the determination of traditional and complementary medicine practice methods, the authorization of professionals who will perform these practices, the working principles of healthcare institutions where the practices will be carried out, and inspection processes. Thus, an updated legal framework has been established for GETAT practices to be delivered in a scientific, ethical, safe, and auditable manner.
The new regulation also includes noteworthy provisions for physiotherapists. The inclusion of health professional service units and residential physical therapy and rehabilitation centers within the definition of healthcare facilities addresses the position of GETAT practices within healthcare service delivery in a broader framework. In addition, healthcare facilities authorized as practice centers or practice units may also perform the GETAT practices for which they are authorized in outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation units.
When the list of GETAT practices included in the annex of the regulation is reviewed, osteopathy, chiropractic, and reflexology stand out particularly for physiotherapists. The inclusion of certified physiotherapists among authorized practitioners in these fields is important in terms of making physiotherapists’ professional knowledge in manual therapy, the movement system, and rehabilitation more visible at the regulatory level.
In Annex-2, certified physiotherapists, certified physiotherapy technicians/technologists, and certified occupational therapists are also listed among authorized practitioners for reflexology. This demonstrates that physiotherapists play an important role not only in rehabilitation practices but also in the safe and competent delivery of complementary healthcare approaches.
However, the regulation clearly states that diagnosis and treatment planning are carried out by physicians or dentists; GETAT practitioners other than physicians or dentists may perform practices within the framework of their duties and responsibilities defined in the relevant legislation. In this respect, the regulation presents an approach that considers both professional boundaries and patient safety.
The efforts and professional advocacy activities of the Turkish Physiotherapists Association, which has long worked to protect and improve the professional rights of physiotherapists and strengthen their role within the healthcare system, have played an important role in this achievement.
As the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Istanbul Gelisim University, we support physiotherapists’ contribution to healthcare services through evidence-based practices that adhere to ethical principles and prioritize patient safety. We hope that this regulation, which is of great importance for our profession, will be beneficial for physiotherapists and the field of healthcare.
To review the regulation:
Review the Regulation Published in the Official Gazette© Copyright 2022 Istanbul Gelisim University All Rights Reserved.
