Regulation
Many European countries have already regulated osteopathy as a healthcare profession, with varying levels of integration into their healthcare systems. The United Kingdom and Switzerland stand out for their comprehensive regulation, including protected professional titles, official registers, university-level education, and government oversight. Finland, Portugal, Malta, Iceland, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Norway also recognise osteopathy as a first-contact healthcare profession, with educational requirements based on European standards, although it is primarily practised within the private sector. France has partial regulation without recognising osteopathy as a healthcare profession, while Italy is still in the process of full implementation.
In general, these regulatory models share common features: legal protection of the professional title, high educational requirements, the use of European standards (CEN/WHO), professional registers, and institutional oversight. Comparative evidence indicates that regulation improves quality of care, patient safety, and clarity of the professional role, providing a strong framework for the development of a regulatory model in Spain.
Leading International Osteopathic Organisations
Osteopahic International Alliance (OIA)
The Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) is a global organisation dedicated to advancing and unifying the osteopathic profession worldwide. Its role is to connect academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and professional organisations at continental, national, and international levels. Its objective is to improve educational and regulatory systems in order to ensure the safe and effective practice of osteopathy. The OIA currently brings together more than 60 professional associations, universities, and research groups, representing both osteopaths and osteopathic physicians as two branches of the same profession. Since February 2018, the OIA has been included among the World Health Organization’s (WHO) official collaborating partners.
Web: www.oialliance.org
Osteopathy Europe (OE)
Osteopathy Europe (OE) was created through the merger of two previous organisations: the European Federation of Osteopaths (EFO) and the Forum for Osteopathic Regulation in Europe (FORE). The organisation is composed of and represents the national osteopathic professional associations of 22 European countries, as well as those of Israel, Canada, and Brazil. Its main objectives are to improve patient safety, education, and standards of clinical practice.
OE is also a member of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA). The Spanish Federation of Osteopaths (FOE), formed by the associations ROE, APREO, and SEMO, is the official representative body for osteopathy professionals practising in Spain.
Web: osteopathyeurope.org
Osteopathic European Academic Network (OsEAN)
It is composed of 29 academic institutions from different countries that offer accredited osteopathy training in accordance with European Standard EN 16686:2015. Through it, the European academic movement is clearly promoted in line with the Bologna proposals in education: «For any profession of health to high degree of responsibility and consultation primary care, an education of BAC/A’ level + 5 years minimum is essential». Thus, and as an example, Switzerland and Belgium currently present osteopathy training equivalent to BAC/A’ + 6 years.
Web: www.osean.com
Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration (COME)
It is an interdisciplinary base for excellence in osteopathy that brings together physicians and scientists who study the effects and effectiveness of osteopathic medicine. Its objective is research into how osteopathy works, to produce convincing evidence to optimise healthcare services and improve the quality of education. Its research groups study aspects of the application of osteopathic medicine, including laboratory-based and clinical research, as well as translational research. In addition to carrying out scientific research, they offer a wide range of educational and outreach opportunities. They have a centre in our country.
National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR)
It was founded in 2003 to provide leadership and unity for the development of osteopathic research. The aim of NCOR is to improve the osteopathic evidence base by encouraging and increasing research capacity, and by implementing it for the advancement of the profession.
Web: www.ncor.org.uk
Spanish Federation of Osteopaths (FOE)
FOE is an organisation that brings together osteopathic associations in Spain whose members meet educational and ethical criteria aligned with the WHO and European standards (such as EN-16686).
Its main functions are:
- To promote the regulation of osteopathy in Spain as a healthcare profession.
- To promote standards of educational quality, ethics, and professional practice.
- To represent member associations before national and international institutions.
- To foster coordination between associations and the defence of the profession.
Other international osteopathic associations
- Associação e Registo dos Osteopatas de Portugal (AROP)
- Malta Association of Osteopaths (MAO)
- The Cyprus Osteopathic Association (COA)
- Association Française d'Ostéopathie (AFO)
- Registro degli Osteopati d'Italia (ROI)
- Drustvo osteopatov Slovenije (DOS)
- Société Belge d'Ostéopathie (SBO)
- Svenska Osteopatförbundet (SOF)
- Verband der Osteopathen Deutschlands (VOD)
- Österreichische Gesellschaft für Osteopathie (OEGO)
- Association Luxembourgeoise des osteopaths (ALDO)
- Nederlands Register voor Osteopathie (NRO)
- Danske Osteopater
- Norsk Osteopatförbund (NOF)
- Suomen Osteopaattiliitto Ry - Finlands Osteopatförbund Rf
- Balti Osteopaatide Assotsiatsioon (BOA)
- Osteópatafélag Íslands
- Towarzystwo osteopatów polskich
- The Institute of Osteopathy (iO)
- The Osteopathic Council of Ireland (OCI)
