Women’s health centre

Homeopathy stays on the NHS

28^th July 2010 - Homeopathy is to continue to be offered on the NHS, despite a report from the Commons Science and Technology Committee which concluded that funding should stop.

In February, the committee delivered a report to the previous government saying there is no evidence that homeopathy works other than as a placebo - when a patient gets better because he or she believes the treatment works.

Informed choice

The new government has decided that, despite financial pressures on the NHS, homeopathic treatment will be continued.

In a statement, Public Health Minister, Anne Milton says: "We believe in patients being able to make informed choices about their treatment, and in a clinician being able to prescribe the treatment they feel most appropriate in particular circumstances, which includes complementary or alternative treatments such as homeopathy.

"It is the responsibility of clinicians to discuss the risks and benefits of specific treatment options with individual patients; and to take into account safety, clinical and cost-effectiveness and the availability of suitably qualified/regulated practitioners."

Highly questionable

The Science & Technology Committee was also concerned that, by funding homeopathy, it could be seen as endorsing it. The government says it will keep the position under review.

The Government Chief Scientific Adviser has discussed the Department of Health policy on homeopathy with officials and expressed his concerns. His position remains that “the evidence of efficacy and the scientific basis of homeopathy is highly questionable”.

The NHS says exact figures for the cost of homeopathy are not collected,  but the costs are believed to be around £3-4 million a year. There are four homeopathic hospitals in England, and around 25,000 homeopathic items are prescribed each year.

Homeopaths’ reaction

In a statement, Dr Sara Eames, President of the Faculty of Homeopathy says: “As a doctor who practices homeopathy on the NHS, I know homeopathy is an important part of our health service helping tens of thousands of patients annually, a majority of whom have not been helped sufficiently with conventional treatments. I am pleased to see the government, contrary to the recommendations of the Science and Technology’s report, agrees that homeopathy has a place in the NHS and offers choice to both patients and local purchasers of healthcare.”

British Homeopathic Association Chief Executive, Cristal Sumner, says “I am pleased to see that the government’s response embraces patients’ right to make informed choices about healthcare.

“This response makes it quite clear that this choice includes complementary medicine and homeopathy more particularly, which is a welcome affirmation to all current and potential patients across the UK.”