“Learn to protect yourself, respect the dignity of those you treat, and above all: do no harm” – Dr Milind Jani GP gives his advice to CAM students in this exclusive camexpo Q&A.
Dr Milind Jani, past president of The British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (
Who or what has been the biggest influence on your career?
I feel that my career is an organic growth and several people, regulations and events influence the progress. The positive influence has been from my own positive attitude to learn new things and my compassion and passion to help the suffering of humanity. The biggest deterrent in my progress, and my career progression, has been the over regulation and obstacles put forth by the powers that be in this country. The fear of litigation and the lack of clarity on changing rules and goal posts in the healthcare industry, natural products and medical profession. EU regulations truly puts a break on the enthusiasm, the energy and the motivation for innovation.
What do you love about your work?
It is an incredible privilege to be able to help people overcome their illness, and more importantly to be able to share my holistic approach with others in order to maintain our wellbeing throughout life.
What’s the single biggest challenge in your work?
Finances! Along with close runner ups: Over regulation, lack of clarity and professional support!
Do you expect complementary therapies to play a larger role in primary care in the years to come?
It already is! When I first started promoting a holistic approach in primary care as a GP, especially interested in integrating complementary medicine with mainstream medicine way back in 1987, there were only a handful of us! There was a lot of opposition from the medical hierarchy – few people were clear about the meaning of holistic health.
People have woken up over the last few years and there is a huge shift in the paradigm of healthcare – more and more people are taking control of their lives, and the internet has provided a huge resource for information worldwide, sharing between professionals, and research. Medical schools are teaching modules on complementary medicine to medical students (I was an honorary medical tutor at the BSMS Brighton and first organised a combined workshop for doctors, complementary practitioners and medical students in around 2002).
What tips and advice would you give someone who is just starting their career in health care/complementary medicine?
Train well in your skills, be inquisitive as well as rational in your application of complementary medicine or modern medicine to patients. Do your research well. It is good to learn from experienced teachers.
CAM students: please integrated more with medics and establish credibility – younger doctors are more open to complementary medicine. Go global!
The medical hierarchy, the public and politicians need to be assured of the safety, effectiveness and rationality of the complementary medicines you use.
Above all:
- Learn to protect yourself
- Respect the dignity of those you treat
- Do no harm.
In addition to your workshop, why would you recommend practitioners/therapists visit camexpo?
We have been associated with camexpo almost since it started. It offers a platform for doctors, complementary practitioners and retailers, giving them an opportunity to familiarise themselves with a comprehensive range of well-established, high standard complementary medicine disciplines, and world-renowned eminent experts offering evidence-based experience of the use of CAM for various common ailments; in addition to prevention strategies.
camexpo also has regulatory bodies, like the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), participating to support CAM practitioners in joining associations to protect themselves. In the modern world, it is very important for every practitioner to be appropriately insured/indemnified for their work, to be properly trained and engage in ongoing Continuing Professional Development.
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