REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI
(No. 9 of 1981)

I assent,

(President I. Tabai)
Beretitenti
29/12/1981

AN ACT TO AMEND THE MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS ORDINANCE (CAP. 55) SO AS TO LEGALISE THE PRACTICE OF TRADITIONAL HEALING METHODS AND PERMIT PRACTITIONERS TO CHARGE FOR THEIR SERVICES

Commencement: 29/12/1981

MADE by the Maneaba ni Maungatabu and assented to by the Beretitenti.

Short Title

1. This Act may be cited as the Medical and Dental Practitioners (Amendment) Act, 1981.

Adds new section to Cap. 55

2. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Ordinance is amended by adding the following new section –

"Kiribati traditional healing

37. Nothing in this Ordinance shall affect the right of any I-Kiribati to practice in a responsible manner Kiribati traditional healing by means of herbal therapy, bone-setting and massage, and to demand and recover reasonable charges in respect of such practice:

Provided that a person so practicing shall not take or use any name, title, addition or description likely to induce anyone to believe that he is qualified to practice medicine or surgery according to modern scientific methods".

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MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS
(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1981

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The above Bill is intended to amend the law to put beyond any doubt that practitioners of local traditional healing methods may practice them lawfully, and it also enables them to charge reasonable fees for so doing. The Bill is intended to meet the wishes of the House as expressed in a debate at the May, 1980 Meeting.

The Bill is based upon similar provisions in other countries where traditional healing methods are in use, such as Hong Kong and certain African countries.

The Bill achieves its purpose by adding to the principal Ordinance an additional section 37.

Michael Jennings
Attorney General