Homeopathy and Anthroposophic Medicine THEIR PLACE IN EUROPEAN HEALTH CARE

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1 Homeopathy and Anthroposophic Medicine THEIR PLACE IN EUROPEAN HEALTH CARE

2 A thriving European tradition Homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine are part of a long-standing European therapeutic tradition with an overall positive safety record first established over two hundred years ago. They are used today by more than 100 million Europeans and enjoy continuous growth in popularity with patients, doctors and practitioners. Three out of four Europeans know about homeopathy and of these 29% use it for their own health care. This represents 100 million Europeans. Between 25% and 40% of European health care practitioners prescribe homeopathy occasionally, 7% on a regular basis. There are specialised homeopathic medical doctors and practitioners in Europe and doctors who prescribe anthroposophic medicinal products. The industry for homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products represents 1% of the European pharmaceutical market and 7% of the European non-prescription market (In 2005 this was equal to million at consumer prices). Sales of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicines in Europe are growing by an average 5% a year. The thousands of medicinal products used in these therapies have been safely on the market in Europe for many decades. However, the current European regulatory framework for these medicinal products, rather than leading towards free trade and European harmonisation, is severely inhibiting industry growth and development. Patients, doctors and practitioners are being denied access to the medicines of their choice. France Netherlands Belgium Germany Switzerland Austria Italy Latvia Lithuania Spain Poland Ireland Great Britain Hungary Denmark Portugal Slovakia Norway Czech Republic Luxembourg Sweden Estonia Finland Greece 0,00 0,27 0,11 0,07 0,05 1,17 1,17 0,78 0,58 0,52 0,51 0,37 0,34 0,30 0,28 Three out of four Europeans know about homeopathy, and of these 29% use it for their health care. Source: Commission Report to the European Parliament and Council on the Application of Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC, Brussels Com(97) 362 final Consumption of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products per head in euros, ,00 Source: ECHAMP ,56 1,23 1,21 2,00 3,00 3,85 3,65 3,50 4,00 5,00 5,19 5,04 4,87 6,00 7,00 7,01 8,00 There is an urgent need for better regulation of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products to preserve this important European industry and to foster development. 2 3

3 Homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine Homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine work with the body s own forces to stimulate the healing process. Treatment is individualised and different people receive different treatments even if they suffer from the same disease. This individual approach meets a growing need for a more personalised way of healing. Homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products cover a broad portfolio of effective, safe and high quality medicines generally derived from natural substances. They can be individually prescribed by a doctor or practitioner or in many cases selected for self-medication. Homeopathy was developed in Europe by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann ( ) more than 200 years ago. All symptoms of a disease - physical, mental and emotional - contribute to the entire picture. The appropriate homeopathic medicinal product is often a reduced dose of the substance which would create a similar symptom picture in a healthy person. A large number of clinical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine and the level of evidence is sufficient to allow their promotion for public health. Regulations governing the manufacture of these medicinal products ensure quality standards equivalent to those of the conventional pharmaceutical industry. Long-term experience demonstrates that the products are intrinsically safe and have only minor side effects. The medicines are relatively inexpensive. These therapies have the potential to generate savings on health care costs through reduced prescribing of medicines and reduced demand for other services. The European Union has an important role to play in encouraging the wider use of homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine as part of an integrated approach to health care in Europe, bringing together mainstream medical science with the best of other traditions. Anthroposophic medicine was founded in Switzerland by Rudolf Steiner PhD ( ) and Ita Wegman MD ( ), a Dutch physician. It treats a person as a whole entity - body, mind, soul and individuality. It ensures that the optimum conditions for health are present, stimulating the self-healing forces of the body rather than relieving the symptoms of disease. It complements conventional medicine with orthodox medical treatments used if necessary. 4 5

4 The need for better regulation Lack of adequate European legislation has led to a significant reduction in the number of homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products on the market over the past fifteen years. Rather than encouraging harmonisation, the current framework is restricting trade, resulting in lack of availability of a wide range of products across Europe. Doctors, practitioners, patients and consumers are deprived of access to the medication of their choice in many Member States. These medicinal products are well-known and well-established. They differ from conventional pharmaceuticals in a number of ways of specific relevance to an efficient and adequate regulation. The current problems stem from the attempt to assimilate them into a legal and regulatory system that was developed for conventional medicinal products, which are largely new and unknown chemical entities. This has resulted in a burden of inappropriate regulatory requirements. The harmonisation process has been further undermined by strong differences of interpretation between the Member States. About ECHAMP ECHAMP is the European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products and represents the vast majority of the industry for these products in Europe. ECHAMP believes that homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine should be fully integrated into health care provision in Europe. It works towards an appropriate European legal and regulatory framework to ensure the easy availability of the full range of these medicinal products, essential for the successful practice and development of these traditional therapies. ECHAMP has over 50 full (company) members. Its associated and corresponding members include national industry organisations and European associations of health care professionals, patients and consumers. The current legal and regulatory framework for homeopathic and anthroposophic medicinal products is severely restricting the industry for these products. There is an urgent need for better regulation to preserve this traditional European industry and foster development, allowing the positive health benefits of these therapies to spread and meeting the demands of the 100 million European citizens who choose to use them. 6 Relevant EU legislation - a brief history 1992 Council Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC lay down provisions on homeopathic medicinal products for human and for veterinary use 1997 Commission report on the application of Directives 92/73/EEC and 92/74/EEC regarding Homeopathic Pharmaceutical Products, COM(1997)362 final 2001 Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use consolidates EU pharmaceutical legislation 2003 Commission Directive 2003/63/EC amending Annex I to Directive 2001/83/EC 2004 Directives 2004/24/EC and 2004/27/EC amending Directive 2001/83/EC ECHAMP E.E.I.G

5 For further information Doctors associations European Committee for Homeopathy (ECH) European Council of Doctors for Plurality in Medicine (ECPM) International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA) Health practitioners associations European Council for Classical Homeopathy (ECCH) Committee for Alternative Medicine (KAM) Nordic Co-operation Committee for non-conventional Medicine (NSK) Association of Natural Medicine in Europe ev (ANME) Patients associations European Federation of Homeopathic Patients Associations (EFHPA) European Federation of Patients Associations for Anthroposophic Medicine (EFPAM) Pharmacists association International Association of Anthroposophic Pharmacists (IAAP) Manufacturers association European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products ECHAMP E.E.I.G. European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products Rue Gray 100 B Brussels Tel.: Fax: office@echamp.eu