cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the action to take in emergencies. 2. Scope and depth of training These must be defined by the national health authorities, according to the duties and responsibilities the acupuncture practitioners will have in the national health system; including whether these will also involve the use of modern Western medicine (alone or in combination with acupuncture), and the degree of supervision under which the practitioner will work. 5.7 Other related fields of health care As future personnel in the national health system, student non-physician acupuncturists should also have adequate knowledge of the organization of health services in the country, relevant regulations and procedures, the disposition of health staff and facilities, ethical considerations, and insurance requirements. 5.8 Examination On completion of the full period of training, the student's theoretical knowledge of and proficiency in acupuncture, and knowledge of modern Western medicine (at the appropriate level), should be evaluated by an official examination, Guidelines on basic training and safety in acupuncture 10 recognized by national health authorities as evidence of the suitability of the trainee to be licensed to practise. 6. Full training in acupuncture for qualified physicians This training programme is designed for qualified physicians (modern Western medicine) who wish to practise acupuncture independently, treating the various conditions for which patients are commonly treated by acupuncture practitioners. Qualified physicians who already have adequate knowledge and skills in modern Western medicine, would only need to follow the Core Syllabus for acupuncture. The theoretical course could be shortened, as qualified physicians can learn traditional medicine more easily than those with no prior medical education. The course should comprise at least 1500 hours of formal training, including 1000 hours of practical and clinical work. On completion of the course and after passing an official examination, participants should be entitled to practise acupuncture in various fields of medicine where it is indicated. 7. Limited training in acupuncture for qualified physicians 7.1 Basic training Shorter training courses would be suitable for qualified physicians (and certain other graduates) who wish to become competent in acupuncture as a form of therapy in modern Western clinical practice (or as a subject for scientific research). For them, a brief introduction to traditional acupuncture (derived from the Core Syllabus) would probably suffice, and the training would then be largely orientated to the use of acupuncture in modern Western medicine. The course should comprise at least 200 hours of formal training, and should include the following components: 1. Introduction to traditional Chinese acupuncture 2. Acupuncture points Section I: Basic training in acupuncture 11 · Location of the 361 classical points on the 14 meridians and the 48 extraordinary points. · Alphanumeric codes and names, classifications of points, direction and depth of insertion of needles, actions and indications of the Commonly Used Points selected for Basic Training. 3. Applications of acupuncture in modern Western medicine · Principal clinical conditions in which acupuncture has been shown to be beneficial. · Selection of patients and evaluation of progress/benefit. · Planning of treatment, selection of points and methods of needle manipulation, and use of medication or other forms of therapy concurrently with acupuncture. 4. Guidelines on safety in acupuncture 5. Treatment techniques · General principles. · Specific clinical conditions. On completion of the course and after passing an official examination, participants should be able to integrate acupuncture into their clinical work or speciality. 7.2 Special courses Some physicians or dental surgeons might wish to acquire proficiency in certain specific applications of acupuncture (for example, pain relief, or dental or obstetric analgesia) and for them flexibility would be needed in designing special courses adapted to their particular areas of interest. 7.3 Advanced training Physicians or other health personnel who have satisfactorily completed a "short" course of basic training might wish to pursue their training at an advanced level, in which case suitable courses would have to be "tailor-made" to meet their needs. Guidelines on basic training and safety in acupuncture 12 8. Limited training in acupuncture for primary health care personnel The introduction of "acupuncture" into primary health care at community level would require the training of a considerable number of personnel over a short period, if it is to have a demonstrable effect. This would probably strain the teaching and supervision resources of the country concerned. It would seem wiser, in such cases, to train such personnel in acupressure (zhi-ya) rather than in acupuncture itself. Training in acupressure would make no great demands, could be incorporated into the general training of primary health care personnel, and would carry no risk to the patient. The use of acupressure in primary health care would have to be evaluated after a suitable trial period. Some personnel who show particular aptitude might be chosen for basic training in acupuncture, a training programme being arranged