Some 40,000 alternative health practitioners will be supervised by the health ministry from January 1 and officials will have the power to fine and shut down clinics, the AD said on Monday.

Under current rules, anyone can set themselves up as an alternative therapist or carry out cosmetic surgery, and patients have no recourse to the inspectorate if things go wrong.

Health minister Edith Schippers said the change in the law is a boost for patient safety. ‘Many people make use of alternative therapists,’ she told the AD. ‘I consider it to be of vital importance that patients get more rights in law and can make a formal complaint.’

However, Cees Renckens of the anti-quack medicine association argued the new law does not go far enough. Patients will be given a false sense of security by the ministry checks, he told the AD.