GENERAL SECRETARY REPORTS

Secretary for Education
Dr. Cesar Luis Cremonini (Argentina)

PROPOSAL FOR A MINIMUM BASIC PROGRAM OF EVALUATION
FOR HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL DOCTORS

Foreword

The need for a Program of Evaluation originated as a result of the proposal for a Minimum Basic Program for Teaching Homeopathy. Therefore, the Liga is now proposing such a program, based on consultation with books and publications, as stated in the final part of this proposal.

1:0 Objectives:

1.1 This program will be applied in the evaluation of homeopathic physicians, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists who have successfully completed courses and have received an official diploma from a School that follows and complies with the Minimum Basic Program for Teaching Homeopathy of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis.

1.2 The purpose of this Program will be not only an evaluation of the knowledge of each professional who applies, but also a contribution to each applicant to gain insight into his or her individual possibilities, limitations, as well as a way of measuring the goals achieved with the implementation of the Minimum Basic Program for Education (M.B.P.E.).

1.3 As stated in the M.B.P.E. paragraph 2.3, this annual evaluation should consist of at least two interim examinations and one final exam for each one of the 3 years of the course.
This evaluations should include:

1. written exam.
2. oral exam
3. evaluation of practice on a case.
4. a written research work.

2.0 Development of the Minimum Basic Requirements for the exams


PART A

2.1 Written examinations

With this examination the candidate is evaluated on his/her comprehension of the structure, methods and proposals of our science based on the following:

1. comprehension of medical thought, as related to illness and a brief history of Vitalism
   and Homeopathy (M.P.P.E. 3.2)
2. theoretical basics of Homeopathy, as stated in the doctrine and the basic principles (M.B.P.E. 3.3)
3. theoretical bases of our semiology and semiotics (M.B.P.E. 3.4)
4. knowledge of the Materia Medica (M.B.P.E. 3.5)
5. knowledge of the Homeopathic Pharmacology (M.B.P.E.3.6)
6. knowledge of the Homeopathic Clinical Method and of the different techniques of repertorization
   (M.B.P.E. 3.8 3.6)

As suggested by different authorities in education this written exam should at least include the following:

1. Questions that require writing at length and in detail on certain themes. We think that these questions should primarily apply to items 1-3-4 of the previous paragraph, but undoubtedly, it can apply to any of the other topics.
2. A multiple choice test, that the different authors we have consulted advise should include the following:
   - a 15-20 % of easy questions
   - a 25-35% of medium complexity questions and 50% of a high level of complexity questions.

PART B

2.2 Oral examinations

This examination should be administered by a three member Board. The exam should evaluate the comprehension of the basic items of the program, the applicability to clinical practice, and the ability to solve specific theoretical problems.

Each of the three members of the Board in charge of the evaluation should, individually, designate the mark or grade given to the examine without consultation with the other members of the board or knowledge of the grade given by them.

2.3 Evaluation of a clinical case

In this part the examine should present a clinical case, reading the medical records, evaluating the possible diagnoses, not only homeopathic but also conventional ones, in order to evaluate the follow up of the case, the strategies selected in each consultation; and the assessment of the patient’s evolution. The examine, thereby, will be able to develop his/her criteria to evaluate obstacles to cure, prognosis and second prescription.

2.4 Presentation of research work

As stated in paragraph 2.4 of the M.B.P.E. each student should present a written thesis of investigation which should, of course, be unedited and unpublished. The theme of this research work can be on any of the aspects of our science, following the recognized methodology for a scientific work, but giving special importance to the Homeopathic Methodology so that our science is preserved in its fundamental principles.

Upon selecting a theme the student should also choose a tutor who will help him/her with suggestions of bibliography, material to be considered, related investigations in other sciences or conventional medicine and in the presentation and defense of the thesis (M.B.P.E. 3.9).

3.0 Intentions and means of evaluation on the different levels.

3.1 On the first level the examination should investigate the Minimum Conceptual Understanding of the principles of homeopathic philosophy, of our materia medica of our clinical approaches, clinical record and clinical strategies for the case, and different repertorial techniques in a theoretical way.

3.2 On the second level the examination should intend to evaluate the capacity of the examinee to integrate all the theoretical knowledge in a clinical intention to cure. The questions should principally evaluate therapeutic intentions, therapeutica criteria of second prescription, and obstacles to the process of healing, and clinical materia medica.

3.3 On a third level, the examination should intend to evaluate all of the previous knowledge as stated in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2, plus a more profound understanding about therapeutical reactions, prognosis, obstacles in the process of healing, case evaluation and criteria and strategies used, miasmas, and the Materia Medica with a miasmatic and comparative approach.

4.0 Evaluation programs for Odontologists, Veterinarians and Pharmacists. The corresponding Departments of the Liga in these sciences, should adapt theoretically this Minimum Program for their respective areas, according to their experiences.

5.0 Suggested Bibliography

As all of the authors advise, before the examination the candidates should receive suggestions about a minimum bibliography that, in normal circumstances, we believe could be the following:

• Organon 6th edition — Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
• Chronic Diseases — Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
• Homeopathic Philosophy — Dr. J.T. Kent
• Materia Medica Pura — Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
• Guiding Symptoms — Dr. C. Hering
• Encyclopedia of the Materia Medica — Dr. T. Allen
• Clinical Materia Medica — Dr. E.A. Farrington
• Materia Medica with Repertory — Dr. W. Boericke
• Repertory of the Materia Medica — Dr. J.T.Kent
• Boeninghaussen's Repertory — Dr. C.M. Boger

Of course, this is a minimum suggested bibliography selected among those classical books that, if possible, should be consulted, but these should be adapted to the local idiomatic possibilities of each country.

Consulted bibliography for this program:

Sequential Tests of Educational Progress, Princeton N.J. 1957.
Ramberg T.A. and Wilson
The development of ter, Stanford California 1969
Bloom B. et al. Taxonomía de los objetivos de la educación,
El Ateneo Buenos Aires 1972
Bloom B. et al. Evaluación de aprendizaje, Troquel Buenos Aires 1979
R. Dottrens. Como mejorar los programas escolares,
Ed. Kapeluz Buenos Aires 1974
Sanders Class Room Questions
Harper Row New York 1996
Kohnstamm. Education for the 21th century, Amsterdam E.H.S.C. 1968.
Bloom B.S. et al . Taxonomy of Educational objectives.
Mc Kay Nueva York l956
Gibbons A review of content and task analyst methodology,
San Diego Courseware 1986.
Nuttall G. et al Contemporary models of teachings,
Rand Mc Nally Chicago 1993.

Secretary for Pharmacy
Dr. Amarilys de Toledo Cesar (Brazil)

"PHARMACY FORUM IN THE NEXT LMHI CONGRESS IN BUDAPEST"

Wednesday, the last day of the Budapest LMHI Congress, will be a day for Pharmacy and homeopathic medicines. During the morning, the presentation of papers submitted and accepted by the Scientific Committee will take place. In the afternoon the Pharmacy Forum will be held. In the morning, do not miss Robert Müntz. He came to South America (Brazil and Venezuela) several times, to go to the forest, where he was living for some time, observing, collecting plants and little animals, triturating them in order to get new remedies that were tested by homeopathic groups in Europe. For the first time, he will tell us about his adventures that started after looking at a movie
about the Brazilian forest: he decided that he wanted to know that place, and so he did!

The Forum will be the time for you to know more about the first monographs of the International Homeopathic Compendium, the project of nomenclature of homeopathic remedies, and the situation of the medicines in Europe. Have you heard that all the remedies from biological sources are endangered by the obligation of heat sterilization before potentization? Come to listen to the
speech "Nosodes - actual questions concerning the quality and viral safety of nosodes,” a report from the European Committee for Homeopathy.

If you are interested in those subjects, do not miss these presentations and come to participate.

HELP US BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONNAIRE:
In order to know more about the rules homeopathic medicines are submitted in several different countries, you are kindly asked to answer some questions:
- Are homeopathic remedies considered "medicines" in your country? Are they sold only by prescription? If so, does it have to be by "medical prescription?" Explain, if necessary.
- Do they have an "expiration date" on their label? Does it depend on the pharmaceutical form, being different for liquid or globules? Which is the expiration date?
- As far as you know, do the dynamizations used to prepare the medicines (the raw materials) have to follow any rule about expiration date?
- Are there any other aspects of homeopathic remedies about which you would like to comment?

Please, send thes questions to any homeopath you know who would want to respond, giving his/her name, address (mail, phone/fax and/or e-mail) and profession. Send the answers, as soon as possible, to Amarilys de Toledo Cesar, e-mail or fax 55-11-883-0099. Thank you a lot!


Secretary for Public Relations
Dr. José Matuk Kanan (Mexico)

We have to say the Liga is growing. We are working, increasing the number of members of the Liga. Now we have more countries in the Liga. We have now the opportunity to explain the differences between the titles National Vice President and National Representative, or National Contact. The countries are members of the Liga, but maybe they have not yet given the election documentation to the General Secretary. This is the differentiation between National Vice President and National Contact, but the important thing is that we have representatives of the Liga in those countries.

We arranged with the company who gives us the support on the Internet to reduce the fare to 70% of the original cost every month. This is an important reduction, saving money for the Liga. In other ways we are making changes in the Internet pages of the Liga National Vice Presidents, National Contacts, including email addresses which are changing constantly.

I remind you that your National report must contain the following points in order to provide the useful information for all.

We received the History of Homeopathy from Argentina, which has been included on the Webpage. We have previously received interesting histories from the following countries:

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Hungary, Italy, Mexico

We need the histories from the following countries:

Australia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia , South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

If you have sent the homeopathic history of your country, it will be included in the page very soon. If not, please do not miss the opportunity to use you place in the Liga Webpage.

The list of emails for the members of the International and Executive Committee are listed elsewhere in this publication.

We are working to increase the communication among us so please help us as soon as possible.

Waiting for your information and thanking you in advance,

LMHI Secretary of Public Relations
Dr. Jose Matuk Kanan


Secretary for Research
Maria L. Lara-Marquez, MD, PhD (Interim Secretary for Research)

Maria L. Lara-Marquez, MD, PhD, native of New York City, was reared and educated most of her life in Caracas, Venezuela. She graduated from Medical School in 1983 in the Medical School J. M. Vargas, of the Universidad Central de Venezuela, which ranks first in that country. She became a homeopathic practitioner in 1985, after a two-year theoretical-clinical post-graduate program directed by the Fundacion Venezolana de Medicina Homeopathica (FVMH). The faculty of this program was constituted of prominent teachers from the Latin American Schools of Homeopathy from Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina. Because of her interest of developing research in homeopathy linked to basic and clinical sciences, she completed a Master of Sciences in Immunology (1987-90) in a research institute of Venezuela (IVIC).

Afterwards she completed a Clinical Residency Program in Allergy and Clinical Immunology in a major military hospital in Venezuela in 1992. She taught in the post-graduate course of Homeopathy of the FVMH in Caracas Venezuela between 1990-1993. In the summer of 1993 she moved to Boston and is now based in USA.

Dr. Lara-Marquez spent three years as a visiting scientist and then as a research fellow in Harvard Medical School in the Department of Pathology and Department of Internal Medicine, doing advance post-doctoral training in the immunology and genetics of asthma. In 1996, she moved to Ohio to join a post-doctoral training program in Psychoneuro-immunology and at the same time completed a doctoral program in the field of neuro-immunology in the Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics of the Ohio State University.

She has now been appointed the interim Secretary for Research of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis until 2001. Dr. Lara-Marquez is expanding her area of research and, in addition to homeopathic therapy of asthma, she is also interested in investigating the applications of homeopathy in wound healing. She is author of several publications in asthma and immunology published in international journals and conducted the first placebo controlled clinical immunological trial of homeopathic treatment for asthma done in the Americas.


Secretary for Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Sergio Canello
no report received.


Report from the General Secretary
Dr. Ulrich Fischer (Germany)
no report received.


Report by the Treasurer
Dr. Ton Nicolai (the Netherlands)
The 1999-2000 report will be presented at the International Council meeting in Budapest.