THE CRUCIAL LINK: REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL VICE–PRESIDENTS

The following reports were taken from the Minutes of the International Council Meeting in Seattle, Washington in May 1997.

Argentina
Dr. Micaela Moizé, NVP

The Federation of Argentine Homœopathic Medical Associations (formed by the AMHA, EMHA and CEMHHC and founded 1995) supports the Minimum Basic Programme for the Teaching of Homœopathy in America. Homœopathy is not officially recognized. Homœopathic schools give three year post graduate courses for physicians, obtaining the title of medical homœopathy. During November 1996, the First Symposium of Alternative Medicine took place at the School of Medicine of Buenos Aires and it was supported by the University. Several publications are available: HOMEOPATIA (AMHA), HOMEOPATIA PARA TODOS (AMHA), ACTAS HOMEOPATICAS (EMHA), BULLETINES FOR HOMŒOPATHIC DOCTORS (CEMHHC), EL SIMILIMUM (FAHMA).


Austria
Dr. Katrin Strauch, NVP

There are two homœopathic medical associations: ÖGHM with 724 members and ÄKH with 138 LMHI members. More than 300 of them have the ECH based Diploma for Homœopathy. Regular homœopathic consultations are done in 5 Viennese hospitals. Regular lectures are held at the universities of Vienna, Graz and Innsbruk. Homœopathic research is continuing in the LB-Institute in Graz. There is a quarterly journal and a yearbook edited by the ÖGHM. The representatives are in close contact with medical and political authorities. Public relations work has been intensified.


Belgium
Dr. Michel Van Wassenhoven, NVP

Associations: Unio Homœopathica Belgica (254 members), Societas Regalis Homœopathica Belgica (60 members), Les Amis de l' Homéopathie (The friends of Homœopathy), an association of patients and sympathizers. Also 7 schools are teaching homœopathy.
Journals and publications:
-La Revue Belge d' Homéopathie, a quarterly scientific journal edited by the Royal Society for Homœopathy.
-Feuille de Contact de l' Unio: is giving all news and political information every three months.
-Les Amis de l'Homœopathie publish news and information for their members about three times a year.
-Homeopathisch Bekeken is another journal for patients published in the Dutch language.
Professional Group Insurance: 110 homœopathic doctors have taken a group insurance system, very cheap and efficient for the protection and defense of their professional responsibility.
This Insurance document will be sent to all IC members.
Contact with authorities: under the pressure of members of the Parliament, the Minister of Health has invited all representatives from homœopathic schools and associations to a meeting to inform his staff about homœopathy.
Project: a study is planned to investigate 1200 children according to the "Well Being Sensation" scale, mainly in chronic relapsing diseases where conventional allopathic medicine does not help. The pediatric patients will be assessed at first consultation, and after one, three and six months. The study is planned for one and a half years in 5 European countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.


Brazil
Dr. Margarida Maria Vieira, NVP

The Homœopathic School of Brazil was authorized by the imperial authorities in 1888. In 1980, the Federal Council of Medicine included Homœopathy among the recognized medical specialties and in 1982 were created the requirements for obtaining the title of Doctor Specialized in Homœopathy.

There are several commissions at the Associacao Medica Homeopatica Brasileira: Pharmacy and Medicine, Course Evaluation, Research, Public Health, Medical Ethics and Professional Defense, Scientific, International, Organization and Editorial).

The 1st National Congress of Homœopathic Pharmacists took place last April, with the presence of 300 participants, and the first exam for the title for Specialist in Homœopathic Pharmacy was conducted.

In the near future, a new edition of the Brazilian Homœopathic Pharmacopoeia shall be made official and valid for the entire territory of Brazil.


COSTA RICA
Dr. Alejandro Brenes Valverde, Representative

Homœopathic Medicine has been legal in Costa Rica since 1921, and its practice is regulated by the Medical Council. Since 1994, it has been recognized as a medical specialty.

The Fundacion Costarricense de Medicina Homeopatica (FUCOMH) has worked since 1986 promoting the integration of homœopathy into the medical curriculum, research in public health, opening a therapeutic service in a public social security (pilot program) and opening a post-graduate university course in the future. There are five medical doctors with university specialization studies recognized by the University of Costa Rica. Thirty other medical doctors use homœopathy in private practice.

The education activities took place in symposia at the national congresses. In 1994 the University for Peace (United Nations organization) was interested in open courses for homœopathy for medical doctors. A public health clinic of the social security is interested in opening a therapeutic service integrated with other medical specialties. To open this service it is important to work in research collaboration programs with a large population.

The demand for homœopathy comprises 27% of the population, as determined by the Health Ministry. There are two homœopathic laboratories. The FUCOMH published the book Homeopatia y Psicologia by Dr.Adolfo Aristeguieta. Articles about homœopathy have been written in medical journals during the past years.


FRANCE
Dr. Philippe Servais, NVP

Homœopathy is very alive in France. There are two trends of practice which are drawing closer now: pluralism, near laboratories, with about 4000 prescribers, and unicism, with about 500 prescribers. Both are gathered in the French Federation of Homœopathic Physicians.

Each region has its own school, pluralist or unicist: more than 30 schools, 4 of them in the university.

There are several groups of clinical research: the G.E.H.U. (Group d' Etude d' Homeopathie Uniciste), with Prof. Madeleine Bastide, immuno-pharmacologist of the University of Montpellier, one of the more active laboratories of fundamental research in the field of high dilution related to the principles of homœopathy. The A.F.A.D.H. (Association Francaise d' Aprofondissement de la Doctrine Hahnemanienne) is also doing a good job.

The French Pharmacopœia has included homœopathic medicament since 1965. Many seminars of homœopathic medicine and several congresses have been held during 1996.

The LMHI is increasingly known in France, with about 60 members at present. The Basic Teaching Standards for Homœopathy of the ECH are increasingly known and accepted.


GERMANY
Dr. Ulrich D. Fischer, NVP

About 5000 doctors with the title "Homöopathie" are working. They prescribe regularly homœopathic remedies, mostly single or complex remedies. Over 70% of all German physicians occasionally prescribe homœopathic single or complex remedies. At least 80% of all patients in Germany regularly or occassionally take homœopathic remedies (total population of Germany: 80 million).

The "Bundesverband Patienten für Homöopathie" (Users Organization Patients for Homœopathy) was founded and is working very succesfully. The goal is to promote Homœopathy, to help patients by informing them about Homœopathy, to help with reimbursement by the insurance companies and to support the homœopathic education of young physicians.

The most important political topic still is the disasterous reimbursement of the public insurance.
The official -public-insurance not only refuses to reimburse fees for homœopathic treatments, but also decided to cut the fees for the so called "talking medicine." That means the few possibilities of reimbursement which existed for those homœopathic doctors who are still working for the public insurance do not exist any more. Some kind of flat rate for all house doctors was introduced to reimburse "talking achievements" during consultation. That means only 5-10 minutes of the consultation will be covered by the offered reimbursement.

Public insurance reimburses only expenses for homœopathic remedies. A booklet was published to inform especially representatives and politicians of the public insurance about Homœopathy.


GREECE
Dr. Viveta Lentza, NVP

The Hellenic Medical Homœopathic Society, with 125 members, has an all inclusive homœopathic educational program, and is a solely medical society in the pursuit and promotion of title recognition for Homœopathy as a specialty. There are five clinics of homœopathy in Greece.
The measurements of the homœopathic remedies carried out at the National Technical University of Athens are coming to a close. A report book and publications in major scientific journals is awaited.
There is a proposal to reenact the Journal of the LMHI by the HMHS.
Because of some media news, and because among homœopathic literature there are some dodgy books of which we were unaware, we suggest that everything that departs from homœopathy strictly, should be clearly noted as personal belief. We are wandering whether LMHI could vote an official statement concerning this matter. This statement might prove to be of a considerable help.


HUNGARY
Dr. Katalin Horváth, NVP

The Hungarian Homœopathic Medical Association has 400 members. Regular courses are given monthly, with lecturers invited from abroad. The journal SIMILE appears four times a year. Some books have been translated and published. Numerous articles appeared in newspapers and magazines, as well as in medical journals.

A law appeared about alternative methods in medicine including the regulation of homœopathy. It determined that homœopathy is a medical method.

The X LMHI Congress was held in Budapest in 1935, last November 1996, the 1st Hungarian Homœopathic Medical Congress was also held in Budapest, with about 160 delegates from different countries.


INDIA
Dr. Diwan Vijay Chand, NVP

Homœopathy is recognised by the Government as one of the national systems of medicine. In 1995, a separate Directorate for Homœopathy was established within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Central Council of Homœopathy was established in 1973 to oversee the standards for Homœopathic education and practice. There are 132 Colleges in the country imparting homœopathic education. The National Congress in Calcutta was held last December 1996. The Asian Homœopathic Medical League organized its 9th International Homœopathic Conference in Jaipur last February. Homœopathy continues to grow more popular in India every day, with the opening of new dispensaries, numerous meetings and seminars and increasing number of homœopathic physicians and patients treated through homœopathy.


ISRAEL
Dr. Menachem Oberbaun, NVP
No report provided by the National Vice President in attendance.


ITALY
Dr. Carlo Cenerelli, NVP

The 51st LMHI Congress in Capri last October 1996 made some consequences in the Italian medical Body. There was in Italy a petition for the official recognition of homœopathic remedies and homœopathic physicians, that was refused in November 1995. After the Capri Congress, a few doctors representing Homœopathy, Acupuncture and Ayurvedic medicine have been consulted by the FNOM (the Italian Medical Federation of M.D.) to find a way to resolve the problem. During this meeting, the definition of Homœopathy according to the ECH was given. It was asked for one appointment of official experts and representatives.

The homœopathic prescription must be recognized as a "Medical Prescription," so that the practitioner is protected against the charge of 'non official therapy."


MALAYSIA
Dr. Azizan Ismail, Representative

There is now a crucial stage in negotiating a palatable outcome of moves by Ministry of Health: there is the intent to introduce a bill to parliament to incorporate traditional medicine and alternative healing therapies into conventional medical practice at Government hospitals.

A visit to health officials in China has been made, and papers presented at international seminars, and lectures given on alternative health management.


MEXICO
Dr. René Torres Garcia, NVP

There are two official homœopathic schools that teach physicians in homœopathy in Mexico since 1895. In 1996 "Homeopatia de Mexico" obtained the officiality of its courses. The document of officialization of specialty will be sent to all IC members.

A Consultative Council Committee has been founded recently to integrate all the groups of the country. Two congresses were held last year in Manzanillo Colima and Aguascalientes. The next congress will be held in Cancun on October 2-5 1997.


THE NETHERLANDS
Dr Frans Kusse, NVP

The Dutch Association of Medical Doctors for Homœopathy (VHAN), founded in 1898, is the only organization for homœopathic doctors in the Netherlands. There are more than 400 members, and about half of them are general practitioners, and the other half "specialists" in homœopathy.
There is a basic training for homœopathic doctors, conforming to the European standards, with refresher courses for doctors that do not yet comply with these standards. There is a compulsory homœopathic education, also conforming to the European standards. Next year, 1998, from 25th till 30th April the LMHI congress will be held in Amsterdam, together with the celebration of the first centennial.


RUSSIA
Dr. Nikolay Zamarenov, NVP
Dr. Yrina Bauriakova, Assistant NVP

A report is sent by Dr.Nicolay Zamarenov.
In May 1996 was held the Congress of the Russian Homœopathic Association in Moskva. A first report was made by the Scientific Government Organizing Homœopathic Center and Government Center for Postgraduate Homœopathic Education. The Ministry of Healthcare supported in August 1996 the Council for Coordination in Homœopathy. A Russian delegation attended the 51st LMHI Congress in Capri in October 1996. At the end of October was held, in Novosibirk-Siberia, the congress of the Russian Homœopathic Society, and a conference with the Ministry of Healthcare was held this same month. The first official collection book with official documents on homœopathy was published. Each clinic, polyclinic and hospital can have homœopathic physicians duly licensed.

The Council of Manufacturers and Sellers of Homœopathic Remedies was organized. In January 1997 the Russian Homœopathic Society and Moscow Homœopathic Center organized a meeting. In May 1997 was held the 7th Annual Congress of the Russian Homœopathic Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Healthcare.

A delegation of LMHI members was at the Royal London Homœopathic Hospital Conference last January. Some LMHI members received a seminar at the Academia Medico Homeopatica de Barcelona on April, and others groups visited Israel and Greece.

There has been published a Russian translation of Kent' s Repertory and computer programs of Synthesis.


SPAIN
Dr. Lluisa Queralt I Gimeno, NVP

There are 268 LMHI members and 29 associations and four homœopathic manufacturers. At four universities (Valladolid, Sevilla, Murcia and Barcelona) there is a postgraduate teaching in Homœopathy. The Hospital del Nen Deu in Barcelona has an homœopathic out-patient service. There are three periodical magazines. Translations from English and French homœopathic books have been made. A First Aid with Homœopathy book from Dr. Manel Mateu (500 pages) has been published.

As for the legal status, the law of medicament (1990) included homœopathic remedies. The Spanish Medical Council supports homœopathy, provided it is practiced by medical doctors only. The "Sociedad Espanola de Medicina Homeopatica" was founded in July 1996. The 3rd Award "Dr.Peiro Rando" at the Academia Medico Homeopatica de Barcelona is open to receive papers until December 1997.


SWITZERLAND
Dr. Clemens Dietrich, NVP

There are 266 LMHI members. The Swiss Association for Homœopathic Physicians (SVHA) was founded in 1856 and is the main organ which deals with political issues in Switzerland.
There are 10 associations related to homœopathy.

Since 1995 the University of Bern established within the Medical Faculty a chair for Homœopathy. In November 1996 a national congress on behalf of the 200th anniversary of the publication of the law of similitude and the 10th anniversary of the SVHA was held in Lucerne. For the first time the president of the Swiss Association of Medical Doctors (FMH) spoke officially in an event of the SVHA. For doctors holding a title of a FMH specialty, a coming sub-specialty under the term of "certificate of capacity" in Homœopathy will be created in collaboration between SVHA and FMH. Homœopathic doctors can be reimbursed fully by basic health insurance. The IKS, International Medicament Registration body, undertakes an effort to register so-called homœopathic medicaments. Until 1999, compulsory Continuing Medical Education general and homœopathic will be established. The SVHA represents Homœopathy at the recently founded "Union of Complementary Medicine."


UKRAINE
Prof. Natalija E. Kostinskaya, NVP

52 members of the LMHI are in Ukraine, some of them practicing homœopathy for 33 years.
In 1820, Homœopathy had already been introduced in Ukraine. It came under the patronage of the imperial authorities and supported by the most prominent men of the 19th century. Societies of followers of Homœopathy, hospitals and pharmacies were organized. Historical events resulted in discontinuance of activities of the societies after the Second World War.

A new stage of development of Homœopathy began in 1985, and development of homœopathy has been supported by the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine. Postgraduate training in homœopathic medicine was started in Kiev and in Charkiv in 1990-92. In 1992, the Chair of Homœopathy was organized in the Kiev Medical Institute. Homœopathic remedies are regulated. The charitable fund "Followers of Homœopathy" was organized in 1995, and collaborates with international organizations and homœopathic physicians. We are hoping for the assistance and collaboration of those who are interested in development of Homœopathy in Ukraine.


UNITED KINGDOM
Dr. Peter Fisher, NVP

The Faculty of Homœopathy, founded 1843, is one of the oldest homœopathc organizations in Europe, and has been recognised by law since 1950. The current number of members is 965. The Faculty of Homœopathy offers different courses during the year and it awards diplomas at three levels: Licensed Associate, Membership and Fellowship, and also Veterinary, Dental and Pharmaceutical Diplomas. The British Homœopathic Journal is dedicated to publishing research and audit, educational material and reviews. Simile, Health and Homœopathy, and Hominform are also published. The United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union to have dedicated public sector homœopathic hospitals in London, Glasgow, Tunbridge Wells, Bristol and Liverpool. Some of the priorities for the Faculty of Homœopathy in the coming period include development of accreditation standards and achieving official recognition of homœopathy as a specialty.


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dr. Dean Crothers, NVP

There are 125 LMHI members. The American Institute of Homœopathy was established in 1844, and is the oldest national medical professional organization in the USA. There are about 14 homœopathic organizations in the country. Licensing requirements to practice homœopathy vary by state and profession. An introductory course in Homœopathy is offered at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. Homœopathy is also included in classes on complementary medicine at 17 universities. Health insurance covers visits to most homœopathic practitioners by virtue of their health care licenses. In December 1995, the AMA passed a resolution, "Unconventional Medical Care in the US," which states: "The AMA encourages the Office of Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health to determine by objective scientific evaluation the efficacy and safety of practices and procedures of unconventional medicine; and encourages its members to become better informed regarding the practices and techniques of alternative or unconventional medicine."

Seven states have passed medical freedom bills. A federal bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in February 1997 and it would guarantee that individuals may choose to be treated by any health-care practitioner with any method of treatment the individual desires. Significant strides have been made toward establishing a certificate of competence in primary care homœopathy.