In Chechnya, healers concerned over tighter authorities' requirements

For activities in Chechnya, a traditional healer should have a medical education diploma and get permission from a special commission, the Ministry for Public Health of Chechnya announces. The initiative of the authorities will result in hidden charges for healers, suggest local herb healers.

Residents of Chechnya involved in traditional medicine are to obtain permission from a special commission of the Chechen Ministry for Public Health, reports the ministry's press service with reference to the minister's resolution dated August 27.

"Along with other licensing requirements, the main condition for obtaining permission is a diploma of a professional medical education (secondary or higher) and a receipt of an appropriate licence from the Ministry for Public Health," announces the report posted on November 5 on the website of the Ministry for Public Health of Chechnya.

Today, an official from the Chechen Ministry for Public Health explained to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the minister's resolution referred to the persons involved in alternative medicine activities.

In connection with the new requirements of the Chechen Ministry for Public Health, the activities of local healers came under threat, say some herb healers interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. So, Musa, a resident of the republic, explained that he had got no medical education. "I've been engaged in treating people with 'grandfathers' methods' for several years. I learned the methods from my grandfather, who had no special education, but that didn't stop him from helping people. I do massage, and I treat people with herbs," Musa said.

A woman from the Vedeno District, who preferred to remain anonymous, suggests that one of the purposes of the innovation is to collect fees for issuing permits for healing.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 6, 2019 at 01:33 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.