| THE LIGA LETTER - March 1999 |
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THE CRUCIAL LINK: REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL VICE–PRESIDENTS The National Vice Presidents/Representatives of Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Ghana, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the USA are to be congratulated for submitting the requested reports. Argentina The main development in Australia in the last year was the overwhelmingly successful inaugural scientific meeting of the Australian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA) in Melbourne late last year. This organization unites all of the complementary doctors in the nation and has the recognition of the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Representatives of both of these organizations addressed the conference and wished us well in our task of integrating complementary strategies into modern medical practice. The next conference is to be held in Sydney immediately prior to the LIGA conference in Bahia. This will unfortunately necessitate some delegates leaving our Sydney conference early to arrive in time for the opening ceremony in Bahia! Another major development here has been the development of a standards document which will apply to all homeopathic practitioners in the nation. Five years in the making, it defines minimum standards of competence in all areas of professional practice to protect the public from medical neglect by unskilled practitioners. The standing of homeopathy is one in evolution, and, as a result, homeopathy practiced by medical doctors will also be regarded more highly in the community. In Austria there are two homeopathic associations with a total number of 855 members. There are no homeopathic hospitals in Austria, but regular homeopathic consultation is available in 6 Austrian hospitals. Concerning research, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Homeopathy is working and investigating a lot. Further there are two regular homeopathic publications in Austria, the HIÖ ìs a quarterly journal, and the Documenta homoeopathica is an annual book. Information regarding the LMHI Congress to be held in Bahia, Brazil, in October, 1999, is included elsewhere in this issue and on the Internet at www.bahianet.com.br/homeo99. Homeopathy is officially recognized as a method of treatment and homeopathic drugs are recognized by law as a remedy - two fundamental points for further development of homeopathy after it re-appeared on the scene in the early nineties. Currently, we may estimate that homeopathy is practiced by approximately 1,000 physicians and few hundreds of non-medical healers. Medical doctors are associated mainly in the Czech Medical Homeopathic Society (CLHS), but there exists also 2-3 other organizations for medical and non-medical homeopaths. Education has been promoted by many international subjects, such as the Austrian homeopathic association, CEDH (Boiron), British Homeopathic College and individual homeopaths from the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. Education is based on private initiatives and this year the curriculum has been redesigned according to ECH recommendations. Homeopathy, as well as other non-conventional methods, are rarely taught in medical schools or universities. Education was in the past covered by the state organized institute for Postgraduate Education for Medical Doctors, but recently homeopathy has been excluded from this "official" system of education. Homeopathic drugs are 100% imported; there is no local producer and it is rather difficult to obtain high potencies and other dilutions than C or D. Homeopathic treatment and drugs are not covered by indemnity insurance (i.e. tax based health insurance, whereas commercial health insurance does not exist). Currently, new law on public health should pass the parliament and here exists strong pressure that all non-conventional methods will be prohibited by law for medical doctors. Homeopathic society started lobbying actions and we hope that the current legal status of homeopathy will be preserved. Many thanks for offering opportunity to publish for the homeopathic doctors interesting writings in The Liga Letter. Our country is currently in state of economic crisis that also has a negative influence on the ESH. As in other post soviet countries, the same process occurred in our society too. Social economic differences continue, as well. As a result, development of the social consciousness in our community is rather slow. ESH is, for the present time, very poverty-stricken. Nevertheless, we strive as far as possible to propagandize homeopathy in our country. Recently, the Estonian parliament exempted ESH from income tax for donation profit in the year 1999. We hope that it would stimulate sponsors to kindness and by that should stir activity among the homeopaths for useful deeds for society. Only it is problematical: is there still anybody capable of supporting our society at the present time? All our doctors, among these homeopaths, as well, are very much occupied as am I. I have no time for any writings, even in native language, nowadays. But we try to do our best. At present we plan to publish a booklet, in Estonian and Russian language, to introduce homeopathy for laymen. Our people are still very ignorant in this branch of medicine. No wonder, for half of a century by soviet regime we lived as in a very large concentration camp. Before World War II in Estonia there were many outstanding doctors, who prescribed both allopathic and homeopathic drugs. Some of them preferred to prescribe homeopathic remedies. Among those was the especially famous doctor Alexander Rosendorff. This grand old man had emigrated in Vienna in 1939. Most educated men who could not escape in exile had been systematically exterminated. In soviet times homeopathy was neglected. Notwithstanding, we are still optimistic and look forward with hope. From the thirties onwards, homeopathy in France somehow forgot the principles of totality and of similitude. It took a special course towards pluralism, a direction more "allopathic: the administration of a number of remedies simultaneously in conjunction with the repetition of those as is usual in the allopathic system. This kind of practice became quickly the rule. It allowed the large expansion of homeopathy in France for the following reasons: that practice was simpler for a number of physicians; the patients were given the possibility to take their medicine every day themselves (a lot of "recipes" have thus been created thanks to the instigation of homeopaths themselves); lastly, it created a considerable "market" with so many medicines given in this kind of practice. From these circumstances has sprung the creation and rapid expansion of laboratories manufacturing homeopathic products. Today the more important ones (Boiron and Dolisos), with their subsidiaries, have a large slice of the world market, thanks to the pluralist teaching that they have spread around the world. It may be considered that in France nowadays, there are about four thousand physicians (10% of them are unicists) who administer homeopathic medicines, although many of them are far from being real homeopaths, which explains why the majority of chemists deliver also homeopathic products. Every graduate physician has the right to administer homeopathic remedies! Neither the Social Security nor the Medical Faculty acknowledge the practice of homeopathy as a specialty, but they have at the same time towards it a liberal tolerance due to the freedom of a physician to administer any remedy he pleases. However, the Social Security inquires about the "usual practice" of a doctor when he is enrolling as a physician. Homeopathic treatment is followed completely or occasionally by thirty percent of the population. Teaching is given mainly through private school. Some of those come together inside a National Federation of Homeopaths. Others are completely autonomous. Even if all are supposed to respect the norms of teaching established by the European Committee of Homeopathic Teaching, the quality level is extremely variable. There is already a distinction to be made between the unicist schools and the pluralist ones, and among those, between the very rare independent schools and the ones controlled by the big laboratories. In conclusion, while not being officially recognized, homeopathy in France enjoys quite a considerable liberty in so far as - as all medical matters - it can only be practiced by physicians. In 1998 the annual season of Georgian Liga members has been held regularly. Due to transportation and other plausible reasons not all members were present; at least half of them attended. A couple of applicants have been trained as homoeopaths, but due to hard financial situations, they withhold from joining the Liga, as there is no chance to attend LMHI congress. Very disappointing, but, due to lack of financial support, the number of regular LMHI members in Georgia has decreased in 1998. Thus we have lost 3 members and are now only 21 in number. As far as the homeopathic situation in Georgia is concerned, the Health Minister signed the order on the setting up of Expert-Consulting Council, consisting of 8 members, representing various homeopathic organizations of this country. The National Vice-President is also included in this Council. The setting up of this Council is the result of the complete absence of governmental control and regulation of homeopathy in this land, as there are too many persons with doubtful diplomas claiming themselves a full fledged homeopaths; and, what is worse, the results of their activity undermine the credit of homeopathy, which doesn't enjoy the same level of popularity as in other countries. Two homeopathic organizations are overseeing a project to set-up a school (training courses) for physicians to be trained in homeopathy. The official registration and other formalities in relation to this school are slowed down as there is neither legislature nor the required. All previous attempts to start teaching processes in this country were, in fact, individual and not properly handled. Thanks to humanitarian and non-profit help and assistance rendered by German friends from the Hahnemann Institute, director Dr. Reinhardt Rose, the Georgian Liga has received a computer, RADAR, library of homeopathic books, as well as certain homeopathic medicines; all this is a great support and significantly eases the problems facing the Georgian homeopaths today. Obtaining medicines is problematic, as we mainly depend on imported means. We are especially in great need of medicines with high potency, as these are difficult to produce locally. The Georgian homeopaths believe that their small experience gained for the last couple of years and the help they receive from their colleagues from abroad, will help them to improve their skills and obtain knowledge and experience. Plans are underway for the establishment of the Homeopathic Medical College. The students will undergo 4-5 years of training based on the curriculum and syllabus for homeopathic institutions on Hahnemannian principles. An appeal is put forth requesting members of the league for voluntary donations of homeopathic medical books for the library of the college, which will be beneficial and encouraging. The colleagues in Nigeria have agreed to cooperate with us at all times for advancement of the profession. The Hungarian Homeopathic Medical Association continues the systematic efforts to introduce homeopathy in Hungary to a constantly expanding range of medical doctors, sympathisers and the general public. At present, our association has nearly 300 members including supporting members. Education Examination Publications Official recognition Lectures Patients/Users Organisation Congress in 2000 International affairs Health insurance No report received as Dr. Chand has been out of the country traveling on professional visits and lectures. However, he previously sent us this photograph showing a monument of Hahnemann during the unveiling ceremonies. The monument is flanked by Prof. Dr. Diwan Harish Chand, President of Honour of the Liga (right) and H. E. Dr. Heinrich Dietrich Kiekmann, the German Ambassador to India. The last years homeopathy in Israel has improved its position. The number of homeopathic physicians has increased to more than one hundred. A negative development though is the increasing of the lay homeopaths: their number is estimated in several hundreds, most of them are classical homeopaths, and they are well organized in an organization for classical homeopathy which includes also some conventional physician working as classical homeopaths. A decrease in the health budget and a change in the structure of the medical system in Israel made the hospitals more autonomous in their economic structure and encouraged them to find additional financial sources. The obvious direction was to follow the growing demand for complementary medicine, and to establish departments offering different subjects of complementary medicine to the public, who would pay for this treatment from his own pockets. Therefore, outpatient clinics were opened in most of the hospitals and medical. Many of the insurance companies are offering a partial reimbursement for complementary medical treatment to patients who are paying for a supplementary insurance program. As a result of that increasing demand, many schools teaching homeopathy sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. This negative development was characterized by great demand for teachers whereas only few are available. Therefore, what happened was that yesterday's students became today's teachers. The standard of the teaching fell down, and today it is very low in most of these schools. Exceptions are 4 schools teaching classical homeopathy and 1 teaching "French homeopathy". All five offer a 3-4 year syllabus and an internship period of one year, most of them in centers of complementary medicine at the public hospitals. Two of these schools have applied in the recent months to obtain recognition as academic institutions in order to be able to grant fully. Though the student representatives at the faculty council voted in favor of including the subject of complementary medicine in the syllabus, which gives us hope for the future. The number of patients using homeopathic remedies is growing. We think that there are about three million. Recently, the Dr. Di Bella affair has raised many problems related to therapy free choice and made public opinion aware of the necessity of asserting free choice to homeopathy rights. Regarding the political situation, three bills in order to regulate non-conventional medicine, have been presented to the Italian Parliament. The Medical Council of Rome has established a directive to regulate homeopathic medicine, acupuncture and herbalist medicine, and has created an homeopathic register. The Medical Council has set up a Permanent Forum wherein non-conventional medicine will be discussed. The LMHI representative is a member of this Institution. There are many problems related to the fact that the orthodox homeopathic medical method is not well accepted. The homeopathic teaching is not part of university programs, but some universities and public hospitals make available their premises where seminars and stages take place. Ninety percent of pharmacies provide homeopathic medicines and other similar products. Nowadays, about 20 firms import homeopathic products from abroad and distribute them in Italy. In our country, homeopathic products are made by seven laboratories. There are 200 Italian LMHI members. More than twenty homeopathic schools organize teaching courses, but only a few of these courses last more than 300 hours. The Latvian Homeopathic Association joining the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis in 1998 was the stimulus for the intensification of processes taking place in it and helped to raise awareness of its place in the world homeopathic community. Besides ordinary monthly meetings of Association members where there is the exchange of experience, discussing of patients' cases and reports delivering on the most actual homeopathic matters, doctors of the Association watched two seminars of video lectures presented by the Belgium homeopathic school which were delivered and recorded in Moscow. This course was highly esteemed by the doctors. The problems concerning the prospects of the development of classical homeopathy in Latvia and spreading of homeopathic knowledge among other specialists are also getting the subject of discussion. Thus the study book on homeopathy in Latvian is in the process of preparation and optional course of homeopathy is to be introduced at Latvian Academy of Medicine for medical students. It is also planned to be acknowledged with the curriculum of world schools of homeopathy and in accordance with that the arranging of the currently qualification improvement courses for homeopaths of Latvia. Unfortunately, the financial situation of the Latvian doctors does not always allow them to attend classes of foreign homeopathic schools. Therefore, we would be very glad to receive any support and help from the side of classical homeopaths who are worried about the development of homeopathy in our country as well. You are kindly welcome to Riga! The Development of Homeopathy in Mexico follows a continuing and progressive working path. Postgraduate levels represent the most important means for the professionals in homeopathic and allopathic medicine. Many doctors study with basic education standards, proving old and new remedies and working with patients. The official recognition of Homeopathy is another important reason for the course to become more serious for the students. The Federal Ministry of Education is now giving official diplomas to the professionals who are finishing this postgraduate study. Mexico has a great traditional homeopathic culture in a continuous motion. In order to preserve this important level, the course, seminars, congresses and general assembles are conducted. The publication of the official Pharmacopœia last year in our country was a real demonstration of the good atmosphere in the relationship between the authorities and Homeopathy. Different applications of homeopathy sometimes create intergroup conflicts, but respect and tolerance is the policy. At Puebla in August 12-14 the International General Assembly with prior symposium is one of the more interesting events in 1999. Homeopathy was officially recognized by the Government of Pakistan through an Act of Parliament in 1965. Since then, the Health Department gave 'stepmotherly' treatment to homeopathy until recent years, during which time it has started realizing the role of homeopathy in alleviating the suffering of the common man. In the largest province of Pakistan, Punjab, there are as many as 155 government run outdoor dispensaries located in the main cities as well as in the far flung areas. Homeopathic colleges are imparting a four-year diploma course which is recognized by the government. There are 41 LMHI members at present. Although the number appears to be small, they are very active in propagating the cause of homeopathy. As usual, Dr. Muhammad Masood Memorial Lecture was held in November 1998. The topic was 'Nutrition in Health and Disease.' It was addressed by Prof. Dr. Abdul Salam Sheikh. He did his doctorate in nutrition and later he became a homeopath. The lecture was well attended by LMHI members, staff and students of Pakistan Homeopathic Medical College, Lahore. A large number of dignitaries from Lahore were among the audience. The existing members of LMHI have been requested to enroll as many members during the next year. I hope the campaign will yield positive results. The year 1998 was a very rich one for homeopathy in Romania. A part of the monthly meetings of the members of the National Society of Homeopathy and the activities of the working groups and small associations involved more and more in the medical-social needs of our country, we are content to name the flourishing of homeopathy basic and continuous training accorded to the international level. The summer of 1998 brought the exceptional seminars with Dr. Gerhard Resch from Vienna and Dr. Michael Barthel from Munich, a direct consequence of our meeting at the Amsterdam Liga Congress in spring and of the spirit of the Liga members. Thank you, Dr. Ton Nicolai! The yearly National Conference was held in October and shows a high level of the activity of homeopathic doctors and pharmacists.We realized that we need one more meeting at the national level during the year and decided to organize a spring Symposium as special celebration of Hahnemann. A new homeopathic magazine was established -Revista Romana de Homeopatie - and one more association was founded - Societatea Transilvana de Homeopatie. We had two inestimable losses: Pharm. Cezarina Tuchel, the continuer of the tradition in homeopathic pharmacy and Dr. Ina Spandonide, LMHI-member, a young, extremely gifted, delicate and warm person whose memory will accompany us forever. We are animated by the close proximity of the 56th Congress to be held in Sibiu 2001, the town were Hahnemann lived two precious years. "The Law of Medicines" was adopted by Parliament and the President in September, when homeopathic remedies were legalized. The special Government Center for registration and certification of all remedies, including homeopathic, and for OTC, was established, according to this law. The Ministry of Health adopted as the official legislative measure the Convention of Russian Homeopaths - the Second All Russian meeting since 1913. It was initiated by Presidents of the Russian Homeopathic Association (RHA) and the Russian Homeopathic Society (RHS). The Ministry of Health obligated to RHA and RHS the arranging of this biggest Convention. Congresses of RHS (in January) and RHS (in May) take place every year. The next of these meetings will be 14-15 of May, the Congress of RHA "Ecology and Homeopathy." Homeopathy was presented in all big Russian Exhibitions and Medical Congresses during 1998, and the beginning of 1999. The RHA was included into the Council of all medical associations of Russia and as corresponding member into the World Medical Association, and women homeopathic doctors from RHA were invited into the World Union of Women Medical Doctors. The Homeopathic Council of Ministry of Health, in continuing of its operations, adopted the creation of Homeopathic Terms Dictionary and Test - exams for licensing in homeopathy. However, homeopathy in Russia has problems to be solved. We have not yet developed a governmental homeopathic pharmacopoeia, nor have we created the medical specialty of homeopathy, and it is not included into obligatory medical insurance. In addition, homeopathy was seriously criticized by medical officials and doctors in the All Russia Congress of Pediatrics in January 1999. More of them were unsatisfied by their bed-results in using homotoxicologic remedies in pediatrics, but they do not understand the difference between it and homeopathy. And such kinds of problems must be solved. In April 1998, the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic (Parliament) has passed a new "Act about medicines and medical products, No 140/1998" which includes also a definition of homeopathic remedies. According to this Act, the registration and the distribution of homeopathic remedies is conducted along the same lines as allopathic ones. Homeopathy is not yet accepted as a therapeutic method by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. Medical doctors can prescribe homeopathic remedies with the patient's approval. Single remedies are bought in pharmacies only on a script written by a doctor. Complex (multiple) remedies can be bought in pharmacies by patients according to the pharmacist's recommendation. Homeopathic remedies can be obtained in about one third of all Slovak pharmacies (c. 300). Slovak Homeopathic Society has 680 members now of whom the majority are medical doctors and about 70 of members are pharmacists. All the members have a basic homeopathic training of 100 hours and about 250 members have training of 200 hours and more. In September 1998 we started a homeopathic course for new applicants which will be for 2 years according to the European programme of basic teaching standards of the E.C.H. Minimally twice a year, we conduct homeopathic seminars which are led by known international teachers/practitioners. In Slovakia, there is no national manufacturer of homeopathic remedies and also no national homeopathic journal as yet. In Slovenia the process for the recognition of homeopathy is a slow one. Notwithstanding, the Slovenian Homeopathic Society (SHS is the only organization representing homeopathy in Slovenia, with medical doctors and pharmacists as members) is active on many levels trying to speed up this process. Pharmacist members have just translated the Italian legislation and will try to enter our proposition for changes in the Law of Medicines, to incorporate EU Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC (European Union Legislation on homeopathic medicines). Slovenia happens to be in the group of 6 Central European countries, that will soon begin talks with the EU to become full members of the EU, which means that EU legislation will soon be obligatory here. In October 1998 it was decided, that doctor members of the Slovenian Homeopathic Society would accept the European Code of Professional Conduct of Homeopathic Doctors (from ECH publication: Homeopathy in Europe, annex 4) as binding for them in their homeopathic practice. Part of our lobbying work concerns public relations on all levels. Informing the lay public is very important in this. Our members have been hosted on the national TV stations in contact shows on health, with immense response. This is a good indicator of the rising popularity of homeopathy in Slovenia, even though homeopathic medicines are not available in pharmacies yet and medical doctors are not allowed to officially practice, without first giving up their medical licenses. They are also asked to discontinue calling themselves medical doctors. Nevertheless, a few doctors do practice on an informal basis, with more and more people asking to be accepted as fully paying patients. Our members also inform the lay public by writing articles in various popular newspapers and magazines. The SHS plans to organize a Society for lay supporters of homeopathy, which we believe should be a great help towards our goal of promoting homeopathy in Slovenia. Homeopathy continues to grow in South Africa, in fact, more than we could ever have anticipated five years ago. In January 1997, there were only two MFHoms in South Africa - now there are twenty, and at least another 30 medical doctors attending homeopathic courses with the intention of writing the MFHom Examinations. At present, we have two MFHom courses running, one in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town. Just as important as the interest being shown by increasing numbers of doctors is the even stronger movement towards homeopathy and other complementary forms of medicine by the public. An important part of spreading the word is the education of the public. This we intend doing in all the main centers. An informed public places more pressure on the medical profession to provide a more holistic medical service. The political situation for homeopathy also looks more favorable. The government, in the form of the department of health, is in the process of drawing up specific guidelines for the regulation of complementary, traditional medicines and the practice of the various forms of complementary medicine. At last, minute dose medicine is being recognized as different to allopathic drug forms and separate legislation is being formulated to deal with this difference so that criteria and protocols which are inappropriate to homeopathic medicine are eliminated. Much closer liaison exists between the medical homeopathic association and the non-medical associations with the aim of uniting our strengths to the general advantage of South African homeopathy. Our immediate goal is to establish homeopathy as part of the primary health care service. Homeopathy is also a state recognized system of Medicine in Sri Lanka. The recognition came only in the passing of the Homeopathy Act No. 7 in the parliament on February 12, 1970. Pioneers Homeopathic Associations Homeopathic Hospital It is due to the untiring efforts of Dr. C. V. S. Corea that the Homeopathy Act was passed in the parliament. He was an Associate of Dr. Walpola, the pioneer qualified homeopath from London. Dr. Corea was the first appointed president of the First Homeopathic Council of the Government of Sri Lanka. Later, he was appointed as the adviser to the Government on Homeopathy. He died in the year 1990. Dr. T. C. Peiris is the newly elected First President of the Sri Lanka Homeopathic Medical Council, and his name was gazetted by the government on 01 September 1988. The office of the Homeopathic Council is situated in a three winged huge building of the Ministry of Health. The subject Minister is Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva. Now Dr. Peiris has taken steps to erect a 100 bed teaching hospital and a homeopathic Medical College. The homeopathic system of medicine is fast growing in popularity in Sri Lanka. Over 1 million people are taking homeopathic treatment from four outpatient departments situated in four provinces. Main Power Resources Homeopathic Pharmacy Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Documentary Video film on Homeopathy and Hahnemann Six year Plan for the Development of Homeopathy in Sri Lanka We have nothing to report from Sweden of international interest of 1998. By July 1999, homeopathic doctors can be reimbursed fully (anamnesis and repertorization on time-based scale) by federal basic health insurance. Patients treated by NMQP's need an additional insurance for this. This is the decision of the national health authority. A clear statement of acknowledgement for Homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies prescribed by physicians are paid already by the official tariff. In September 1998 the "Aerztekammer" of the FMH (Board of the National Medical Council) adopted principally the formulation of a certificate of capacity for homeopathy. This means the acknowledgement of Homeopathy as a subspecialty. A big step in recognition of homeopathy! By January 1999 this new certificate has been validated. The minimal requirements are 5 years of postgraduate medical training in structures officially recognized by the FMH, plus homeopathic training corresponding to the Diploma of the SVHA (see below). The SVHA is responsible for issuing all Certificates of Capacity in Classical Homeopathy in Switzerland. It is not necessary to be a member of the SVHA to obtain the Certificate. Every Certificate has to be revalidated every two years by the education committee of the SVHA (CCME). By 1999 compulsory Continuing Medical Education (CCME), general and homeopathic in certain percentage, for the holders of the diploma SVHA (according to the Programme of Basic Teaching Standards) is established. 50 hours of Homeopathy and 30 hours of conventional medicine will be requested every year. Evaluation is through the use of specially designed forms. The qualification/requirements for the diploma of the SVHA was newly structured in May 1998 as follows:
Since 1995 the University of Bern established within the Medical Faculty a chair for Homeopathy under the name of "KIKOM, Koillegiale Instanz für Komplementärmedizin". Address: Dr. André Thurneysen, Imhoof-Pavillon, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Tel. , Fax . 1997 Dr. Dario Spinedi opened a homeopathic clinic in the Clinica Santa Croce, 6644 Orselina, Tel. 091/735 43 72, Fax 091/735 43 74. The clinic consists of 30 beds, 4 homeopathic doctors can treat severe diseases in hospitalized patients by Homeopathy. The 2nd National Congress of the SVHA was held at the Musée Olympique de Lausanne on the 29th and 30th October 1998. The subjects were the following: presentation of different practical approaches in cases, didactics in homeopathy, forms of CCME for homeopathic practitioners. The recertification for the diploma of the SVHA will be newly structured in May 1998. The SVHA now has a Home Page on http://www swiss-homeopathy.ch. Associations: Ukrainian charitable fund and homeopathic societies in Kiev, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Odessa continue to develop homeopathy in Ukraine. Teaching: In 1998-1999 the first graduates of Kiev Medical Institute of Ukrainian Folk-Medicine Association received medical diplomas of specialist in folk and alternative methods of diagnosing and treating. The program of teaching includes 108 hours in homeopathy along with usual medical disciplines in this institute. In 1998 the first graduation from the Department of Homeopathy took place in "Protos" Institute (education for a graduate physicians). The teaching of homeopathy continues in some State Medical Institutes (Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava) and in Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education. Only physicians with the degree of specialist-homeopathist apply homeopathy as a method of treating in Ukraine. Journals and Publications: Published books are the following:
The literary review is prepared on the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulated action of homeopathic remedies. Organized measures: In 1998 three conferences dedicated to the topical problems of homeopathy took place in Kiev, Yalta and Odessa. More than 500 physicians and pharmacists participated in these conferences. In the same year, the 3rd Hahnemann's Readings was organized in Kiev. Fourth Hahnemann's readings have been planned in April, 1999. The homeopathic section was created in the State Committee of Medical and Biological Industry with the purpose of development of the home production of homeopathic remedies. Scientific researches: The Department of Homeopathy in Medical Institute of Ukrainian Traditional Medicine Association continues research on the problem "Anti-inflammatory and immune-modulated action of the homeopathic remedies." Legislative documents: The analytical documentation has been prepared about the present condition of Homeopathy and the perspectives of its development in Ukraine. The LIGA activity is represented in the United States by the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) which currently has about 100 members from 28 states. The AIH took a monumental step in its 154 year history by opening its membership to Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants [a non-voting, associate membership]. The membership believed this to be in step with the changing nature of health care delivery, including homeopathic practice, in the United States. Members of the AIH have figured prominently in homeopathic activity, in the USA and internationally. The AIH President Sandra M. Chase, MD, DHt, the Immediate-Past President of the LIGA, took up the reins of the AIH and is planning a gala celebration of the I00th Anniversary of the Hahnemann Monument in Washington, DC to be held June 21-24, 2000. Wayne Jonas, MD, DHt, completed his term as director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institute of Health and returned to his position as Director of Research Education at Walter Reed Army National Medical Center in Washington, DC. One of our elders, Edward Whitmont, MD, a Jungian psychologist and author of Psyche and Substance, died at age 85. This year marked an important step in the increasing dialog about alternative medicine with the publication of an articles in the medical press; the Journal of the American Medical Association's (JAMA) and its sister journals published a number of papers on alternative medicine in November 1998. Jennifer Jacobs, MD, MPH; Dean Crothers, MD; and Edward Chapman, MD, DHt, authored a study of the practice patterns of members of the AIH which was published in the Archives of Family Medicine in November, 1998.1 Two other articles2 on homeopathy were published on the treatment of sinusitis and vertigo, as well as a meta-analysis of studies using Arnica.3 JAMA also reported an update of the utilization of alternative medicine in the United States by David Elsenberg, MD, and his colleagues at Harvard. They reported that the use of homeopathic medicine increased from 2.2 million Americans in 1990 to 7.3 million in 1997.4 The new educational initiatives for primary care physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants initiated in 1997 in Boston and Seattle enrolled more than 100 practitioners. Half of these students were certified through the Homeopathic Primary Care Certification exam, a cooperative venture between the American Board of Homeotherapeutics and the Academic Faculty of the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital. The Council for Homeopathic Education has revitalized it efforts as the accrediting agency for homeopathic educational programs. The AIH's sister organizations, the National Center for Homeopathy and the Homeopathic Association of Naturopathic Physicians have continued enlarging and refining the scope of their educational and advocacy activities. A sad note was the demise of the International Foundation for Homeopathy which had held educational programs and published the popular magazine Resonance for nearly two decades. State homeopathic medical societies in Ohio, California, and Arizona, and regional homeopathic societies the Southern and New England states have been active in promoting homeopathy on local levels. The pharmaceutical industry continues robust growth in sales and an improved relationship with the Food and Drug Administration.
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