Homeopathy and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Proposed Draft Statement – 2/2012

After the flawed draft statement on homeopathy that was released last year, the NHMRC is to invite practising homeopaths and the Australian community to consider a revised draft statement and provide feedback from early to mid 2012. (NHMRC: Complementary Medicines – Homeopathy)

This is a welcome change in policy but if the new draft is to have any validity, the NHMRC must include representatives from the homeopathic profession on the committee so submitted material can be assessed and commented on in an informed manner. We will keep you posted as further information becomes available.

Thanks to all who contacted the NHMRC, concerned that their initial draft was based on a UK parliamentary report from a discredited committee which claimed homeopathy was no better than placebo. If you do contact the NHMRC  about its new draft, consider directing them to the much more reliable and comprehensive Swiss Government report which concluded in 2011 that that homeopathic treatment is both effective and cost-effective and that homeopathic treatment should be reimbursed by Switzerland’s national health insurance program.

Copies of this lengthy report, Homeopathy in Healthcare, can be either purchased or read as sections online.

Information on the discredited UK committee and the earlier draft: Flawed NHMRC Draft Statement Re Australian Homeopathy