Why be a member of the SBO-BVO – UP ?

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SBO-BVO – Union Professionnelle reconnue des Ostéopathes de Belgique

Far from being a eulogy of the SBO-BVO, I would like this article to be an invitation to awareness. I wish to explain the motivations which led me to become member of the SBO-BVO and which soon led me to be actively involved in it and to work for the professional defense.

One day, motivated by personal reasons, you decide to get involved in a wonderful adventure: the study of osteopathy.

You made this choice in full knowledge after weighing all the information at your disposal. To choose, however, also means to renounce.

You took a difficult path demanding sacrifices and a lot of will to reach your destination: a wonderful profession which brings a lot of satisfaction everyday. So there you are, student of a medical profession supported by the SBO-BVO which defends the academic level required for its members.

The SBO-BVO asks for a professional status for its members but with respect of and in collaboration with the other disciplines of modern medicine. The desire to be one day integrated in modern medicine requires seriousness and rigorousness, even if our profession is also the practice of an art.

Our situation has greatly evolved compared to 15 years ago. To be a reference authority with the legal, social and political organs, to be consulted as representative for certain official colleges, to be recognised by the Ministry of Middle Classes, etc., these are the results obtained by the SBO-BVO for its members. It is the fruit of the laborious effort of the board of direction of the professional Union, motivated by the ideal of all the osteopaths who militated and tirelessly served the SBO-BVO.

In full awareness of the situation of osteopathy in Belgium and of what it entails, you have chosen to study osteopathy. This means that you are ready to go through it and accept the responsibility of a profession and a social status.

In the past our predecessors had already understood its importance. In a spirit of professional defense and its dynamics, corporations emerged thanks to the constructive, realistic and intelligent imagination of some people.

To assume and to take responsibility is not only to defend our profession but also to foresee the future and do everything in our power to promote the profession until the official recognition of a statute for osteopaths.

Important breakthroughs have been made in this area. In 1997, Europe, via its Parliament, officially recognised non-conventional medicines as independent professions. The Member States were invited to rapidly legislate on these health professions.

In 1999, Belgium recognised Osteopathy. The “Colla bill” gives osteopaths a framework law. It stipulates early on that osteopaths be members of a professional union recognised by the law.

On 10 April 2004, the recognition of the professional Unions, first requirement of the framework law, is regulated by Royal Decree. The SBO-BVO becomes official and is confirmed in its function.

Consequently, why be a member of the SBO-BVO ?

Simply by legal obligation, besides showing good professional conscience and ethics, ideas that I tried to develop above.

Why the SBO-BVO – UP ?

Simply because it is the oldest union… because it has participated in the present History of Osteopathy of our country… because it is the best structured union, the most professional in its vocation: to protect and to promote our profession… to defend our interests.
I often think of the older members, their creative mind and dynamism, how they paved the way for us. To see you become active and involved in the SBO-BVO and the socio-professional defense it represents is my wish.

In the hope of meeting you soon and of our future collaboration, I will end by quoting a NASA slogan: “if you dream it, you can do it! ...”.

Let’s serve our collective ambitions with responsibility.