New Study: 20,000 Italian Doctors Recommend Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an important part of the medical fabric of most countries in Europe. One in six Italians use homeopathic medicine at least once a year says a new independant research study. The new report also shows that over 20,000 Italian Medical Doctors recommend homeopathy.

(ANSA) – Rome, February 23 – One in six Italians use homeopathic medicine at least once a year, research by health sector research institute DoxaPharma showed on Tuesday.
The study also showed that about 20,000 doctors in Italy recommend the use of homeopathy, a system in which patients are treated with small doses of a substance that would in larger amounts lead to symptoms of illness in healthy people.
Omeoimprese, an association of the biggest homeopathic medicine producers in Italy, reported revenues of about 92.6 million euros in 2015, up 2.9 % compared to the previous year.
Total turnover in the whole homeopathy sector in Italy amounted to more than 300 million euros, making it the third largest market in Europe. However, overall revenues edged slightly lower by 1% in 2015.
“The number of Italians who are familiar with our products remains high, but the economic crisis that has hit companies globally has without doubt negatively influenced prescriptions of the drugs, for which patients have to pay the entire cost,” said Omeoimprese President Giovanni Gorga.

ANSA

Primarily medical doctors practise homeopathy in Italy. There are a number of large homeopathic medical organizations in Italy that have several schools and associations each. These are SIO (Societa Italiana di Omeopatia) and FIAMO (Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni e dei Medici Omeopati). There are many schools teaching homeopathy and some interesting research into homeopathy happening at main stream Universities in Italy.

Serious Irregularities in Australian Flawed Report Surface

In 2015, the Australian National Health Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) authored a report that designated homeopathy ineffective.

But many serious methodological flaws, procedural irregularities, bias and conflicts of interest have come to light about the whole process. The Australian Homeopathic Association (AHA) has investigated and has taken their report of the serious irregularities to the Council. Because of the nature of the problems that have been uncovered the Council is now having an internal investigation. Probably the most serious being that the head of the NHMRC Homeopathic Working Committee was a member of a pro-pharmaceutical corporate medicine group called FSM.

“AHA, in collaboration with Complementary Medicines Australia (CMA), has been engaged in an active, formal process of making NHMRC accountable for its flawed ‘Review’, which was underpinned by unacceptable bias and conflict of interest.  The CMA/ AHA investigation has revealed a number of critical (previously unknown) procedural and methodological irregularities that invalidate the ‘Review’s’ findings.  Some of these are of a very disturbing nature, for example the undisclosed fact that a Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM) member was appointed as the initial chair of the ‘Homeopathy Working Committee’ in 2012, concomitant to the NHMRC CEO being personally warned of FSM’s lobbying of NHMRC reviewers to its anti-Complimentary Medicine agenda.”

Such factors, amongst many others, bode well for having the ‘Review’ and its findings permanently set aside, which is AHA/ CMA’s goal.

After a lead-up investigation period, in August 2015 CMA provided NHMRC with a dossier outlining critical methodological flaws, procedural irregularities, bias and conflicts of interest associated with the ‘Review’. This successfully brought NHRMC to the negotiating table on September 17, 2015, under threat of further follow up action underpinned by legal support. At the meeting, attended by representatives from the AHA, CMA and their legal representation, NHMRC agreed to undertake a formal internal review of its processes and consider a detailed (61-page) submission prepared by CMA/ AHA detailing these irregularities. NHMRC is currently undertaking this internal review.

AHA appreciates members’ and supporters’ patience in this matter. Now that a formal complaints process has been initiated via NHMRC, AHA is more able to keep everyone informed of progress with this situation as it develops.

To this end National Council has set up a Sponsorship Program to financially support our legal costs in the ongoing process outlined above. Any contribution you can make to this fund will directly support these ongoing activities and will make a real difference. For more information please visit the website.” —http://www.homeopathyoz.org

Actress and Model Jessica Alba Was Inspired by Homeopathy

Jessica Alba used homeopathy when she was in Australia doing a TV show. It inspired her to start a natural product company that has grown to over 1 billion in sales.

Jessica Alba recently confessed to Vogue how the creation of her successful eco-friendly enterprise was influence by Australia and the lifestyle she experienced in that country, “I did a TV show in Australia for two years, and that’s where I learned about homeopathy and homeopathic medicine,” Alba said as she explained how she started to get inspired for her business, The Honest Company.