CHIROPRACTIC, whilst recognised as a health profession by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and forming part of the healthcare system in most developed countries including European countries such as Britain, France, Portugal, Italy, Denmark and Switzerland – many of which recognise it as a primary healthcare profession – WITHIN SPAIN IT IS NOT A RECOGNISED HEALTH PROFESSION AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. Because health legislation is a matter of regulatory law under the sovereignty of each EU member country, the chiropractic profession finds itself in a legal vacuum in Spain, meaning there are no laws to regulate it. The Spanish Association of Chiropractors (A.E.Q.) has petitioned the courts and relevant health and education ministries requesting that Parliament boost the legislative process to officially recognise chiropractic as a health profession in Spain. In countries legally recognising chiropractic as a health profession, the chiropractic degree is obtained after 5-6 years of educational training. Two Spanish institutions currently offer five-year chiropractic programs (with unofficial titles) in anticipation of the legal recognition of the profession in Spain: the Real Central University Maria Cristina of Madrid (UCR) and the Barcelona College of Chiropractic (BCC). The training from these institutions meet all the standards of quality and excellence demanded by the European Council of Chiropractic Education (ECCE), and paradoxically, Spanish graduates may work as official chiropractic health professionals in other countries like the United States, France or England, but not in their own country. The A.E.Q. was created and recognised by the Ministerio del Interior in 1986, and has over 200 members with chiropractic degrees recognised by the European Council of Chiropractic, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of professional practice at a European level. Unfortunately so far, these degrees and diplomas ARE NOT RECOGNISED AS OFFICIAL TITLES IN SPAIN. To ensure your chiropractor meets the quality standards established by ECCE regulation of chiropractic in Spain, check and verify that they are a member of the A.E.Q. in “Find a chiropractor” on the website: www.quiropractica-aeq.com. The regulation of chiropractic in Spain is a matter of political expediency, but in the meantime chiropractic professionals who meet the requirements of the AEQ statutes find themselves in a situation of legal uncertainty and disadvantage compared to other professionals from neighbouring European countries. Additionally due to the lack of regulation, Spanish citizens may be treated by unqualified people claiming to be chiropractors who do not meet the minimum international standards.

(**) The web www.centroquiropractioibiza.com & www.chiropracticibiza.com provide information on the professional services of Jans Olde Wolbers, owner of the contents of these websites. The content of these sites is offered for informational and informative purposes. The owner is not responsible for the content or comments and opinions expressed by third parties on their websites. The contents of the websites are not intended to replace health professional advice, since CHIROPRACTIC IS NOT A RECOGNISED HEALTH PROFESSION IN SPAIN AND HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF REGULATION IN SPAIN, so that the owner assumes no responsibility, directly or indirectly, which may arise from the use made of this information.

 (***) “Chiropractic is a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these on overall health. It is based on manual techniques, including joint adjustment and / or manipulation focusing mainly on subluxations. “

Definition of the World Health Organisation (O.M.S.). Guidelines on Chiropractic, 2005