At a lecture organised by the Association of Greek Homeopaths (SOE) on 4 November at the Ionic Centre, the President and the Secretary General of the European Central Council of Homeopaths (ECCH) presented the data that exist in most European member states on the recognition and practice of homeopathy. Among other things, they said:
About 20 to 25% of the European population use homeopathic medicines. Europeans are increasingly turning to homeopathy as a means of treating and improving their health. Homeopathy, together with some other complementary and alternative therapies (CAM), is very widely used by patients all over Europe as an additional therapeutic option, to such an extent that it is becoming part of the growing trend to approach health using many different disciplines at the same time. The emergence and self-development of the new profession of homeopath across Europe responds to the increasing popularity of homeopathy among patients and to their resulting needs. Homeopathy is a distinct discipline with a significantly different approach from conventional medicine to patient care, and it requires in-depth training from those who practise it.
In 1997 the European Parliament, in a resolution on non-conventional medicine, stated that, since a number of people in the member states use certain non-conventional medicines and therapies, it would be unrealistic to ignore this de facto situation, and it called on the European Union to begin the process of recognising these non-conventional forms of medicine after the necessary research has been carried out.
In 1999, according to the resolution of the Council of Europe, alternative and complementary forms of medicine may be practised by conventional doctors as well as by any well-trained practitioner of non-conventional medicine (a patient may turn to one or the other, either on referral by his or her family doctor or of his or her own free will), provided that ethical principles prevail. It also recognised homeopathy as one of the four best-established CAM therapies in Europe.
In May 2002 the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a policy document setting out a specific framework of guidelines for the practice and recognition of CAM, strengthening their cooperation with other health professions.
In Germany there has been legislation since 1939. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Portugal already have legislation under which homeopathic practitioners are independent health professionals. In England the existing legal situation has placed homeopathy within the National Health Service.
In Greece, despite the systematic attacks on homeopathy, citizens’ choice to use it and its practice by professional homeopaths and doctors keep growing. It is therefore imperative that the Greek state take the steps necessary for Greece too to have a legal framework regulating the practice of homeopathy by well-trained professionals, whether they are doctors or non-medical homeopaths.
