NHS Should Stop Funding Alternative Therapies, Say UK Top Doctors

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Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Article Date: 24 May 2006 - 13:00 PDT

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Some eminent British doctors are urging the National Health Service (NHS) to stop paying for alternative therapies. They argue that these 'bogus' therapies are not proven according to 'solid evidence'. While UK patients are being denied such drugs as Herceptin, the NHS, which is strapped for cash, should not be paying for 'unproven or disproved treatments', such as homeopathy.

Prince Charles disagrees. In a speech at the World Health Assembly, Geneva, he said there should be a proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies. He believes a proper mix can help create a powerful healing force in the world. He explained that several complementary therapies used today are rooted in ancient traditions. Traditions which understood how important it is to have good balance and harmony with our minds, bodies and the natural world. Orthodox medicine, he said, has much to learn from proven alternative therapies.

Thirteen top doctors sent a letter, organised by Michael Baum, emeritus professor of surgery at University College London, to 476 acute and primary care trusts in the UK.

The letter criticises a government-funded guide on homeopathy for patients. It also attacks the Smallwood report, which was commissioned by Prince Charles. The report said there should be more access to NHS funded complementary therapies - therapies which would bring about enormous benefits.

The thirteen doctors said homeopathy reviews have never produced any convincing evidence of effectiveness. They went on to say that modern medicine must be open to new discoveries. But it should not be open to everything just as a matter of principle. They argued that as the NHS has limited resources, they would be better spent on therapies that are based on solid evidence.

The thrust of their argument is that all therapies should undergo the same strict rules for approval as modern drugs and orthodox medical procedures.

There was criticism regarding £20 million for the refurbishment of the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital.

The UK Department of Health leaves it up to doctors and trusts to decide what NHS treatments their patients should have. As decisions on alternative therapies are taken locally, central government does not know exactly how much is spent nationally on alternative and complementary medicines. It is estimated that about 50% of UK general practitioners (GPs) use alternative therapies or refer their patients to alternative therapists.

Editor's Opinion:

If doctors are allowed to decide whether to use alternative therapies for themselves, why not let them continue to do so.

We have received many emails on this theme. Perhaps the ones below reflect the opinions of most people who have written in:

(Name withheld - England)
"I am not trying to knock orthodox medicine. It is wonderful and has saved many lives. However, there are times it is blind to what can be done to improve the health of people. Five years ago my GP, who is a personal friend, found that I was pre-diabetic. He arranged for me to go to a local gym three times a week. I had a personal trainer who also helped me improve my eating habits. Within a year I was no longer pre-diabetic. I paid for the gym and the trainer out of my own pocket. I am sure, had I not taken this preventive action, that today I would be a diabetes 2 patient and a very expensive burden on the NHS for the rest of my life. I am 62 - I could have been an NHS burden for the next 20 years. I call what I did 'alternative treatment'. Orthodox medicine would more likely have helped me with drugs when diabetes 2 arrived. Surely, funding what I did would, in the long term, make for a healthier nation and save the NHS money."

(Name Withheld - Ireland)
"Proven therapies are fine. However, they are only effective for people who have become very sick. They do nothing for people to prevent the sickness from coming in the first place or helping the person from getting sick again. Yes, statins can deal with cholesterol build up and prevent strokes and heart attacks. But there are many people out there who are not genetically predisposed to cholesterol build up who would have benefited from lifestyle training from their doctors - rather than just being given drugs. Orthodox medicine is weak in this area."

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today


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