Advisory Council

Pursuant to its contract with the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) and the University of Tromsø, the National Research Centre in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) is obliged to have a professional Advisory Council.

The council shall provide professional advice regarding NAFKAM’s areas of activity in research and information (National Information Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Norway - NIFAB). Separate statutes issued by the Directorate for Health and Social Affairs (Hdir) regulate the council’s activities.

NAFKAM, HOD, Hdir and the University of Tromsø (UiT) can submit matters to the council for consideration. On its own initiative or at the request of other professional bodies, the professional council can address issues within its own area of competence.

The council shall have seven members, one of whom shall represent UiT. The rest of the council will consist of:

• One representative from the association of CAM practitioners’ organisations (SABORG) or the Norwegian Acupuncturists’ (?) Association (NAFO).
• One representative with public relations/communications expertise.
• The current chair of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR), or a person appointed by him/her.
• One representative of the patient organisations.
• Two active complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) researchers who are not employed by NAFKAM.

HOD, Hdir, NAFKAM, and UiT’s central administrations can propose new members. Formal appointments are made by Hdir.

During the period 2009-2011, the advisory council consists of the following members:
• Aslak Steinsbekk, chair (CAM researcher affiliated to NTNU)
• Terje Risberg (Professor UiT and senior consultant at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN))
• Helle Johannessen (CAM researcher, Denmark)
• Rita Agdal (SABORG)
• Tor Øydvin (Senior public relations adviser, UNN)
• Heidi Skaara Brorson (the Norwegian Cancer Society)
• Claudia Witt (Chair of the International Society of Complementary Medicine Research (ISCMR))