It is highly recommended that you seek professional legal advice for the state in which you practice. According to the US National Institute of Health, homeopathy was developed in Germany in the early 19th century. Homeopathy is “based on two unconventional theories: there have been several reviews of scientific evidence of homeopathy`s effectiveness. Doctors are divided because some of the theories behind homeopathy do not agree with the principles of chemistry and physics. Scientists argue that a drug without an active ingredient should not have an effect on the body. In the UK, public health homeopathy has been steadily declining in recent years. The number of prescriptions for homeopathic remedies by the National Health Service (NHS) fell by more than 85% between 2000 and 2010 (from 134,000 to 16,359), with homeopathy accounting for only 0.001% of the total prescription budget for 2010. [33] Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital, formerly one of four homeopathic hospitals operated by the NHS, closed in 2009 following a drop in referrals and a review of homeopathy funding by the West Kent Primary Care Trust. [34] In September 2010, one of the three remaining homeopathic hospitals funded by the NHS, the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, was renamed the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine to more accurately reflect the nature of its work. [35] A fifth homeopathic hospital in the NHS, Liverpool`s Hahnemann Hospital, closed in 1976.
[36] Homeopathy is becoming increasingly popular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran. The Ministry of Health of the United Arab Emirates systematically recognizes and regulates the practice of homeopathy. Doctors and laymen can practice homeopathy, but they must pass all MOH exams that cover both medical science and homeopathy. [92] Iran`s Ministry of Health recognizes homeopathy as a legal alternative treatment. The Iranian Homeopathic Association, established with the approval of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, is the reference association for the provision of homeopathy standards. In Iran, only doctors can practice homeopathy. [93] Medically qualified physicians and laymen may practice homeopathy, with the Congress of Homeopathic Physicians having 30 physicians on its register in 2005. The Homeopathic Medical Organization of Nigeria was founded in 1961 and the first homeopathic practitioner, I. Okogeri, began practicing the following year. Founded in 1972, the Nigerian College of Homeopathic Medicine is recognized by the Central East State Government.
[109] The Nigerian Institute of Homeopathy has special consultative status with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [110] [111] A comprehensive 2015 review of the evidence by the Australian government`s National Health and Medical Research Council concluded that there is no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for any health condition. The 2010 report of the Committee on Homeopathy stated that the principle of “similar remedies” was “theoretically weak” and that it was the “established view of medical science.” A survey of more than 70,000 citizens revealed that about 4.7 million people in Italy (8.2% of the population) used homeopathy from 1997 to 1999, 7.7% of them children under 14 years of age. The use of homeopathy increased from 2.5% in 1991 to 8.2% in 1999, but despite this increase, these figures are still considered to be relatively light consumption compared to other countries. [20] In Canada, a study detailing the use of alternative medicine by children in Quebec found that 11% of the 1,911 children surveyed used alternative medicine and 25% of those who used alternative medicine (less than 3% of all children studied) used homeopathy. The study also pointed out that homeopathy is more commonly used in children in Canada than in adults, of whom only 19% of alternative medicine users used homeopathy. [65] Physicians who opt for alternative medicines such as homeopathy must follow the guidelines of their provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons. Health care in the province does not cover homeopathy in general.
[6] In 2016, it was estimated that NHS spending on homeopathy was still around £5 million, despite repeated campaigns to remove homeopathy from the list of treatments paid for by the NHS. [56] In July 2017, the NHS announced a policy not to fund homeopathic medicine as it was a “misuse of resources”; [57] They also called on the UK Department of Health to blacklist homeopathic remedies[58] and the NHS stopped funding homeopathic remedies in November 2017. [59] Following instructions from NHS England management that NHS spending on homeopathic treatments should cease and GPs should be advised not to “prescribe” treatments to existing patients, the British Homeopathic Association took legal action against the NHS. In 2018, the High Court ruled in favour of NHS England. [60] [61] In order to provide better legal and policy support for homeopathy, we strongly recommend supporting homeopathic organizations, in particular: If you use the titles illegally, the committee may issue you a quote and a fine (California Code of Regulations, Division 40, Title 16, Section 4254). Medical assistants, nurses and others who normally have to work under the supervision of a doctor must also do so to prescribe homeopathic medicines. Acupuncturists and chiropractors should consult with their own boards of directors to learn about their legal rights to use homeopathic medicines. Some advice says practitioners can use “natural medicines,” which some people theorize may contain homeopathic remedies. Since homeopathic medicines are considered over-the-counter medicines, a doctor can certainly prescribe homeopathic medicines if he can legally prescribe these medicines, either himself or under the supervision of an authorized person who can. However, since anyone can get over-the-counter drugs on their own, there is currently some confusion when it is actually illegal to recommend such drugs to others.
In South Africa, homeopathy is currently regulated by the Allied Health Professions Act, 1982 (Act 63 of 1982)[100] and the regulations accompanying that Act,[101] which was established to provide for the establishment of a statutory body, the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA),[102] to regulate the homeopathic profession. among ten others. The AHPCSA is one of five statutory councils of health professionals that regulate health professions in South Africa. Anyone wishing to practice homeopathy in any way within the borders of South Africa must be registered with the AHPCSA. Registration is required by law and under South African law, the practice of homeopathy without registration is a criminal offence. Homeopathic registration in South Africa enjoys a status, rights and privileges similar to those of orthodox medicine. This means that the field of legal activity of a homeopathic practitioner is very similar to that of a conventional physician. The scope of the practice also includes what would generally apply to naturopaths in countries like the United States. Member States shall ensure that homeopathic medicinal products (for oral or external use) may be registered without evidence of therapeutic efficacy, provided that sufficient dilution is available to ensure the safety of the medicinal product. In particular, the product must not contain more than one part per 10 000 of the mother tincture or more than 1/100 of the smallest dose used in conventional medicine, as regards active substances the presence of which in a medicinal product entails the obligation to provide a medical prescription. In other words, the dilution must be at least D4/4X/C2 and, in special cases, even higher.
