THE CRUCIAL LINK: REPORTS FROM THE NATIONAL VICE–PRESIDENTS

The National Vice Presidents/Representatives of Australia, Austria, Cuba, Czech Republic, Georgia, Latvia, Pakistan, Romania, Ukraine and United States are to be congratulated for responding to our request for report submission. Each National Vice President is requested to submit a small summary for the newsletter, along with his/her Annual Report. Where such has been received, it has been used. When a summary has not been received, the Editor has had to summarize the report.

Australia
Dr. Eric Asher, NVP

This year has been largely uneventful in Australia, as far as homeopathy is concerned. While paid up LIGA membership numbers remain unchanged at around 10, this does not indicate the 50 or so practicing medical homeopaths in Australia.

This February Paul Herscu will give a seminar in Sydney as a cooperative educational venture by the Australian Medical Faculty of Homeopathy(AMFHom, the doctors' group) and the Australian Homeopathic Association, (largely non medical practitioners). Such cooperation, in the interest of patient care and of homeopathy in general is developing momentum in Australia. Dialogue between allopaths and homeopaths has been facilitated through talks by the AMFHom executive and by a specially commissioned review article on homeopathy published in Current Therapeutics, a leading Australian conventional pharmacology journal.

A slow shift in the medical climate of opinion in favor of (or at least less antagonistic towards) homeopathy is now detectable, at least in general practice, paralleling similar changes in the UK.

Austria
Dr. Katrin Strauch, NVP

In Austria there are two homeopathic associations offering a training program consisting of 350 hours ( 200 hours theoretical, 150 hours practical training). An official diploma is awarded after fulfilling this education. It is recognized by the medical chamber of Austria as diploma of complementary medicine in homeopathy. Apart from the basic training, advanced training and supervision offered. There are lectures at all Austrian universities on a voluntary level.

Research is done by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut fur Homöopathie in Graz with international contacts. There are no homeopathic hospitals in Austria but homeopathic treatment is offered in seven hospitals.

Veterinary homeopathy is recognized on an official level, receiving the title of Specialist in Homeopathy. There is a veterinarian association which is in close contact with biological farmers.

Cuba
Dr. Mayra Riveron Garrote

We started this new century with the consolidation of the homeopathic therapists as indicated by the recent graduation from the Cuban School of Homeopathy of 25 new MDs and pharmacists, as well as by the 25 dentists who also finished their education in homeopathy. All of them are now incorporated in the group of 882 certified homeopaths in the whole country. Now we begin a new cycle of our 300-hour classes in the certified program for MD's of the hospitals of the capital.

Our next objective is to improve the scientific knowledge level of the graduates through postgraduate courses in clinical research, pediatrics, adult medicine, study of pharmacodynamics, workshops of repertorizations; therefore, the meetings with teachers of other schools are of transcendental importance. So far, there is no Cuban homeopathic journal; however, we have relied on journals such as La homeopatia de Mexico and the Boletin Mexicano de Homeopatia in which the Cuban researchers have found a positive forum for publishing their research data. Almost 30 papers have been published in both journals.

We have the company of our homeopathic friends from Mexico, Brazil, Italy, USA, Spain, Canada and many others who have provided books, remedies, updated information and support through the participation in international meetings.

We are working in the construction of an experimental lab to obtain mother tinctures of medicinal herbs of homeopathic use for its distribution to all the pharmacies of the country. However, a critical point of our work is that the sources of remedies are yet to be identified.

Czech Republic
Dr. Zuzana Hankeová, Representative

• Organizations: LHS/The Czech Medic al Homeopathic Association/ Address: PO Box 25, Kafkova 19, 160 41 Praha 6, The Czech Republic; NMQP Organizations: HS/ The Czech Homeopathic Association/ Address: Eliaky P Yemyslovny 380, 156 00 Praha, The Czech Republic; KKH/the Czech Chamber of Classical Homeopathy/ Address: Hlavni 61, 624 00 Brno
• Magazines: The Homeopathic Links in the Czech version; Homeopathic List issued by LHS; Homeopatie issued by HS
• Research: Our doctors will participate in SOCHOM study organized by ECH.
• In the past few years, there have not been any significant developments related to homeopathy in the Czech Republic.

LHS Czech Medical Homeopathic Association holds a three-year course based on the requirements of the ECH and LMHI. There is also an advanced course, where the Dutch, English and Indian lecturers are involved. This course is divided into five weekends of the year and one summer school that usually lasts one week. LHS and SHS (Slovak Homeopathic Association) have decided to alternate with the organization of the congress. The congress to be held in 2002 is the responsibility of the HS. They will issue a new homeopathic journal called Homeopathic List.

As far as the political situation is concerned, it is much improved since the Ministry of Medicine has ceased suppressing homeopathy and other kinds of complementary methods. It is mostly due to the change of the Minister. In the CR there is one very important law that allows people to use homeopathy only if they have the permission to cure. This was written in 1993 by the Czech medical chamber.

LHS was expelled from the Czech Medical Association. Some of the Czech homeopaths have appealed to the international court for human rights in Strasbourg. The case is still being discussed, therefore there is no definite solution yet.

The LHS has also connected the NMQP organizations on account of the educational programs. The main point was finding the way to work out the plans of the lectures where even foreign lecturers are invited. Additionally, the LHS aims to cooperate more with the ECH and the LMHI. This relationship should entail an upper educational system that would comply with the European standards.

Georgia
Dr. Nikoloz Gujabidze, NVP

Dr. Nikoloz Gujabidze was the only Georgian homeopath among a Russian group to take the final exam in October 2000 at George Vithoulkas’ International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, on Alonnisos, Greece. He was among the more than one hundred students from 12 countries forming three Russian groups in the Academy. A four-year program of education was divided into eight terms and contained all the most important issues of classical homeopathy. This experience was very interesting for me because, after the opening of our society (former Soviet Union), we found it possible to make new contacts, not only with a great master such as Mr. George Vithoulkas, but with a lot of homeopaths from all over the world. I would like to express my gratitude to my teacher, not only for the imparted knowledge, but also that my study was free of charge. Secondly, I express words of thanks to the Director of the Hahnemann Institute, Reinhard Rose, who sponsored my visits to Greece. He also helped the Georgian homeopaths with the gift of a computer, printer and RADAR program and some homeopathic literature.

Among the German, Italian and Russian group it was agreed that all students were satisfied with the teaching and we all felt that our knowledge markedly increased and our understanding of homeopathy became more aligned with the ideas of Hahnemann and other classic leaders of homeopathy as described in their works.

The Georgian Homeopathic Development fund was established 29 September 2000. Through this fund we decided to collect some financial means and invest it in the most important fields of homeopathy - a plan necessitated by the poor financial conditions of our population. The 13-paragraph plan of the GHDF states our goal of trying to help the Georgian homeopaths in any field of homeopathy.

For more information, contact the National Vice President, LMHI, for Georgia.

Latvia
Dr. Marina Afanasieva, NVP

LMHI members: 53 medical doctors
Organizations: 1. Latvian Homeopathic Association (LHA), Skolas 5, Riga, LV-1010, Latvia
Medical Center Ars, Skolas 5, Riga, LV-1010, Latvia
Baltic Center of Classical Homeopathy Heliotrope, Tomsona 37, Riga, LV-1013, Latvia
Schools: 1. basic training course of LHA
2. the seminars of foreign homeopathic doctors (Belgian, French, Indian, Ukrainian)
Program of Activities: participation in the 55th Congress of LMHI, May 13 -17, 2000, Budapest, Hungary 2. the 4th World Congress of the Latvian doctors June, 20 - 22, 2001, Riga, Latvia
the 56th Congress of the LMHI August 29 - September 2, 2001, Sibiu, Romania

Planned publications (for the 4th World Congress of the Latvian doctors):
- History of homeopathy in Latvia and homeopathy’s place in the contemporary world medicine
- Clinical investigations in homeopathy
- Clinical homeopathic cases
Magazines: La page internationale La Lattonie in Le bulletin du pediatre homeopathe, N38, December 2000

Pakistan
Dr. Khalid Masood Qureshi

During the year 2000, research work has been undertaken on “Effect of Homeopathic Medicines in Patients of Diabetes Type II” in the Research Cell established in Homeopathic Trust Hospital attached to Pakistan Homeopathic Medical College, Lahore, under the supervision of the Biology Department, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Homeopathy continues to gain popularity in Pakistan. The increasing number of homeopathic practitioners in Pakistan clearly indicates its popularity and bright future.

M/S. homeopathic Stores & Hospital Lahore, one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of Homeopathic Medicines, has been awarded ISO 9002 certificate and has become the first ISO 9002 certified company in South East Asia assessed and registered against quality Assurance by three leading accreditation bodies; TGA/DAR of Germany, UKAS of England and COFRAC of France.

The 8th Annual Convocation of Pakistan Homeopathic Medical College, Lahore, was held on 26th February 2000. Eighty students, after completing four years course, were awarded diplomas in Homeopathic Medical Science (DHMS) duly recognized by the government of Pakistan. The outstanding students securing top positions were also decorated with Medals and Certificates of Merit.

Romania
Dr. Carmen Sturza, NVP

Dear Distinguished Colleagues,

Thank you for your interest in sharing the opportunity represented by the 56th Congress of the Liga Medicorum Homoeopathica Internationalis, 29th August-2nd September 2001 in Sibiu (Cedonia, Cibinium, Villa Hermani, Hermannstadt, Nogy Szeben)- Romania, the town where the founder of our medical science and art, Samuel Christian Hahnemann, started his own periclum.

We are pleased to bring you some news:

• Sibiu Congress will have 5-languages simultaneously translated, as follows: Spanish, English, German, Russian and French- by the best team of Romanian medical translators, intensively trained in homeopathic terminology, especially for our Congress.
  
  
• you will find at the website the registration form for participants and accompanying persons.

Please visit the Congress web site at http://www.sccc-ga.ro/homoeopathica. A registration form is also found elsewhere in this issue of The Liga Letter.

Ukraine
Prof. Natalija E. Kostinskaya, NVP

At present international contacts between Ukrainian and foreign homeopaths are intensively developed. The 3rd International Congress, attended by LMHI President J. Imberechts, took place in Odessa, in October, 2000. The 6th Hahnemann Readings under the guidance of Austrian homeopath K. Werthmann took place in Kiev on April 7-8, 2001. Collaboration through Internet is developed.

Education. Homeopathy is taught at State Medical Universities as an elective course. The duration of multi-stage courses on Homeopathy at the private Homeopathic School of T.D. Popova and at the private Institute "Protos" is several years. Internal-external distant course of postgraduate homeopathic education was introduced at the Institute "Protos" in September, 2000.

Research. More than 60 homeopaths take part in epidemiologic, statistic and multi-center clinical trials, conducted by DNU. Clinical trials on use of complex homeopathic remedies, produced by Heel, DHU (Germany), R. Bittner (Austria), Materia medica (Russia), are carried out in Ukraine presently. Medical doctors of different specialities show great interest in homeopathic remedies, produced by these firms, and their propensity to use these remedies is continuously increasing.

Research in treatment of peptic ulcer with classical homeopathic remedies is continued.

Publications. Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress in Odessa were printed. The 2nd issue of Kiev Homeopathic Almanac is being prepared for publication. The issue will include the best scientific papers, discussions, and clinical cases contributed by Ukrainian and foreign homeopaths. The number of publications on homeopathy in newspapers and journals is increasing.

United States of America
Dr. Richard Hiltner, NVP

The oldest professional medical organization in the USA, the American Institute of Homeopathy [AIH], has increased its membership during the last year to 140: with regular members being 120, 8 associates, 4 retired, 5 honorary and 3 corresponding members. The American Institute of Homeopathy Journal [Quarterly] is being revised. An AIH trustee, Janet Levatin and AIH President, Jennifer Jacobs are developing a membership drive with a new brochure which includes the advantages of being a LIGA member to at least 300 practitioners.
The AIH is seeking homeopathic physicians to contribute to the Data Collection Network. Dr. Marianne Heger of Germany and her US colleague, Dr. David Riley are the primary organizers of this effort.
AIH Second Vice-President, Larry Malerba is heading a Primary Care Homeopathic Certification Course [PCHCC] Project. Various AIH physician members will teach courses in different parts of the country. The curriculum is geared toward presenting an introduction to the use of homeopathy in various acute care situations.
The AIH has added a link to the LIGA at its web site. Sandra Chase is doing the finishing touches on the “History of Homeopathy in America” for the LIGA Web page.
It also plans to join with the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Committee of the United States [HPCUS] about the official position on the legal status of homeopathy in the USA.
The AIH is sponsoring a fundraising drive to raise funds for some necessary repairs of the 100 year-old Hahnemann Monument in Washington, DC. The goal has been set at $30,000.

Several Board constituents and other prominent homeopathic physicians have testified before the USA President’s White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine[WHCCAM]. This commission will provide recommendations to the U.S. President about how CAM can be integrated into the health care system. The following are some of the homeopathic presenters:

1. Dr. Jennifer Jacobs testified on some of the latest homeopathic research. Jennifer Jacobs gave two reports to the WHCCAM. Some excerpts from the first commented on that the use of homeopathy has increased five-fold in the past 10 years. Except in three states, there is no specific license in homeopathy. There are three certification boards for homeopathy: one for medically licensed, one for naturopaths and one that is open to all.
   Her second report was primarily delineating homeopathic research throughout the globe. Dr. Jacobs has contributed two finished studies: 1] the statistically significant diarrhea research. 2] On February 12, 2001, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal published a study on the homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media. The study revealed overall that the children in the homeopathy group fared better after 5 days, and the 2 and 6 weeks of follow-up compared to the placebo, but this finding did not achieve statistical significance.
   Dr. Jacobs is currently heading a research for hot flashes in breast cancer patients a Providence Medical Center in Seattle funded by the Department of Defense.
   Dr. Jennifer Jacobs, the principal investigator, and consultant, Dr. Bernado Merizalde, Secretary of the AIH, have been awarded a grant to study the Homeopathic Treatment of Dengue Fever in Honduras the Boiron Research Institute has funded a pilot study. It is to be carried out in the Autumn of 2001.
2. Joyce Frye, president-elect of the AIH and President of the USA’s largest organization [National Center for Homeopathy] represents the public interest in homeopathy with approximately 6500 members, gave a presentation emphasizing that according to the World Health Organization homeopathy is the second largest form of medicine around the globe. She pointed out that the LIGA has thousands of members in five continents and 40 countries. Dr. Frye continues her WHCCAM report by emphasizing the cost-effectiveness research demonstrated by the French Government Report on 1991 Social Security Statistics which revealed significantly reduced cost using homeopathic vs. conventional medical care. Total cost of care per physician utilizing homeopathy was approximately one-half of total costs of care provided by conventional primary care physicians.
   She also pointed out to the Commission the 89 placebo controlled trials published by Linde, et al. in Lancet in 1997. This indicated that patients using homeopathy were 2.5 times more likely to have a therapeutic effect compared to placebo in a variety of conditions.

There are numerous barriers to the increased use of homeopathy in the US:

1. Public awareness of homeopathy remains limited.
2. The number of homeopathic medical practitioners is very limited due to expensive and prolonged post-graduate education, lack of Continuing Medical Education accreditation and conventional medical bias attributed to the implausibility of any effect o homeopathic dilutions.
3. Insurance reimbursement policies and billing codes are biased towards procedures rather than time spent.
4. Non-medically licensed practitioners who wish to practice homeopathy in a manner similar to their counterparts in Great Britain and other countries have uncertain legal status in the US.

Dr. Frye made a number of good recommendations, but space does not permit elaboration. However, a few highlights can be mentioned:

1. Encourage the inclusion of meaningful workable homeopathic and Complementary and Alternative Medicine education throughout medical training curricula.
2. Request assistance from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality in establishing practice guidelines.
3. David Riley reported on peer reviewed indexed publications.
4. Sandra Chase spoke to WHCCAM on local county regulations of parents being unable to have their children take over-the-counter homeopathic medicines in school without needing a physician’s signature.

Wayne Jonas, who is a Member of the WHCCAM and well-known for his knowledge and research in homeopathy, has stated at the time of this report that really is no conclusive homeopathic news since the proceedings are still being conducted. The National Institute of Health also has not awarded its grants on research.

A significant medical legal status change in the USA came with the last major national elections in November 2000. In the state of Minnesota a law was passed allowing great flexibility in the practice of medicine, including homeopathy. It virtually allows almost anyone to registrar with the state medical authorities to practice a variety of medical disciplines.
The same lawyers and proponents are hoping to change other states, including California. The California Health Freedom coalition is associated with the Minnesota law lawyer, Diane Miller. She or a representative will be speaking at the upcoming California Homeopathic Medical Society conference in San Francisco in October 2001. If such a law were passed in California, it would allow Registered Homeopaths as in Great Britain and elsewhere to practice.

And finally,
Eric Foxman, Secretary for the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists has related that Homeopathic products continue to increase in sales in the USA.