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By Julian Huppert MP - 2nd July 2010
The British Medical Association has recently called for a ban on NHS funding of homeopathy, a system that uses highly diluted substances to treat patients.
As a scientist and a strong proponent of evidence-based policies, I applaud the BMA's view.
The NHS has funded homeopathic treatments for a long time, but a commitment to evidence-based policies means examining evidence and data to evaluate decisions.
In light of what we know about homeopathy - namely, that it is ineffective beyond placebo - it is simply wrong for the NHS to continue spending on homeopathic treatments.
There is no scientific basis for why an extremely diluted solution completely devoid of any active ingredient should be an effective treatment. Homeopathy has been shown to be ineffective beyond placebo, as summarised in the findings of the fourth report from the Science and Technology Select Committee of Session 2009-10, Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy, HC 45.
The use of homeopathy by NHS doctors also raises ethical questions. Because the placebo effect ultimately depends on deception, it removes patient choice and undermines the trust inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.
It is unethical to prescribe patients homeopathic remedies while giving them the mistaken impression that they are valid medical treatments.
In these tough economic times where we must look for savings, spending on homeopathy cannot be justified. Disgracefully, our government has no idea how much it spends on homeopathy, but estimates reported by the Guardian place NHS spending on homeopathy at £12 million from 2005 to 2008.
These are millions of pounds that could be spent on treatments that have been proven to be effective at treating patients.
People are of course welcome to spend their own money on any legal products they choose, but for the NHS to continue giving the best care to our country, it must look to evidence to justify its programs and cut spending that is not effective and not cost-effective.
When times are tough, difficult decisions need to be made. Fortunately, this is not one of them. I hope we make the right choice by ending NHS funding of homeopathy.
Article Comments
Real is scientific homeopathy unlike Conventional Allopathic Medicine (CAM).
Small doses of evidence-based modern homeopathy medicine brings big results for everyone.
Dr. Nancy Malik
5th Jul 2010 at 11:23 am
Greta
You need to be more open minded and understand what constitutes evidence and why we have to focus on evidence/science-based treatments.
The only consequence of loads of anecdotes about any AltMed treatment such as homeopathy is that it may indicate that something is worth investigating; but that investigation has to be done impartially to ensure any biases are eliminated so that we can see the true effects of that treatment.
This isn't dogma - it's about finding out what is best for patients.
This has already been done many times for homeopathy and it has utterly failed to show any effect over placebo.
Homeopathy: there's nothing in it.
Zeno
5th Jul 2010 at 10:21 am
I presume Julian Huppert MP will therefore also call for the scrapping of all the other therapies and treatments that are currently available on the NHS but are no more supported by proof of effect that Homeopathy is.... anti depressants etc etc, you know, over 50% of NHS treatments. Yeah, right, I didn't think so.
As for that Select Committee report, it is hardly proof is it? 3 committee members on a hobby horse in the dog days of the last parliament.
This all feels like dogma to me....
Roger
5th Jul 2010 at 10:00 am
Very sad that you have taken up the mantle of Dr. Evan Harris, another LIbDem MP or rather ex MP.
Tom Dolphin of The BMA was out of order saying that homeopathy is witchcraft. It is an arrogant view and ignores the feelings of thousands of intelligent people who use and benefit from this medicine.It assumes a dogmatic attitude of telling people that their experience and knowledge of their own well being is of no consequence whatsoever.
Greta Williams
4th Jul 2010 at 1:35 pm
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