Blears: new cash for alternative medicine

More than a million pounds for research and development into complementary therapy and alternative medicines has been announced by the government.

Public health Minister Hazel Blears detailed plans for the new National Complementary and Alternative Medicines Award (CAM) scheme which will fund new research into areas such as acupuncture and homeopathy.

In the first round of the scheme, the Department of Health recommended that five individuals receive the awards.

Blears said: "I am pleased to welcome this important initiative. Increasingly, the population is turning to complementary and alternative medicine sources as well as utilising main stream medicine.

"The development of a solid evidence base for complementary and alternative medicine is therefore important. I anticipate it will underpin the future integration of all forms of therapy towards improving the nation's health."