The Isle of Man Government is proposing the Regulation of Health and Social Care (ROHSC) Bill. If passed, it could reduce patient choice in complementary and alternative healthcare, as well as a wide range of wellbeing and lifestyle services. At the same time, it would spend taxpayer money on building a costly new regulatory system instead of investing in frontline healthcare.

This Bill risks forcing small local businesses to close, limiting access to trusted therapies, and adding unnecessary bureaucracy to an already stretched health system. Many of the services affected are provided by small, mostly women-led businesses that play a vital role in our community’s health and wellbeing.

There is no identifiable need for this legislation. Safeguards already exist through professional bodies, insurers, training requirements, and codes of conduct. Duplicating these systems only adds red tape while draining public resources.

We, the undersigned, call on the Isle of Man Government to stop the Regulation of Health and Social Care (ROHSC) Bill in its current form.

This Bill would:

Spend taxpayer money on regulation while patients face long waits and health services struggle with staff shortages.
Duplicate safeguards already in place through professional bodies, insurance, training, and codes of conduct.
Put many small, mostly women-led businesses at risk of closure, reducing the services people rely on.
Charge excessive fees – £1,060–£1,270 to register and £320–£635 annually – six to ten times higher than in the UK.
This is a waste of public funds, an unnecessary layer of regulation, and a direct threat to patient choice and community wellbeing.

We call on the Isle of Man Government to withdraw or redraft the ROHSC Bill and protect patient choice, local businesses, and community wellbeing.