The President of the Ordem dos Psicólogos (OPP) participated in the forum “Regulation in Health: Professional Self-Regulation”, promoted by the recently created Order of Nutritionists, to reflect on the role of the Orders in the context of the organisation of the professions.

Telmo Mourinho Baptista defended the importance of the self-regulation of professions as a clear sign of the maturity of the profession. According to the President, self-regulation, even if imperfect, is always better than an external regulation by the State, which, in most cases, is unaware of the problems of the professionals, or total deregulation which leaves professionals and users to fend for themselves.

The President highlighted the difference between the period in which there was no Ordem dos Psicólogos (OPP) and everything which has been done in the space of a year and a half, towards the defence of Psychology users and the professionals. He also mentioned the importance of the existence of a Code of Ethics and an acting Jurisdictional Council which services to protect users of practices considered inappropriate.

Telmo Mourinho Baptista also mentioned the role that the Order can have in training throughout the life of professionals, stimulating them and keeping them up-to-date and promoting training certifications which contribute to this update. In his intervention, he welcomed Alexandra Bento, president of the Setting Up Committee of the Order of Nutritionists, congratulating the entire team on the creation of the Order and wishing them success for a period which is always difficult in the life of an Order, its setting up and the first moments.

The debate, moderated by Pedro Graça, member of the Setting Up Committee of the Order of Nutritionists, included representatives from other Orders from the health sector - Order of Doctors, Order of Dentists, Order of Nurses, Order of Pharmacists and Order of Psychologists. The event took place at the Almeida Garrett library, in the city of Porto, last Friday.