The Status of Alternative Medicine in Greece

Dear Minister,

I recently received an informational letter from the Homeopathic Association of Greece, which presents the Association’s requests regarding the status of alternative medicine in our country. The letter is accompanied by a Statement of Support for the requests, signed by a large number of citizens (around 2000 citizens). Both the extent of public interest and the arguments presented deserve our full attention.

As you know, homeopathy is a therapeutic practice used by a large portion of the population in the European Union. In many countries – such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, and others – homeopathy is practiced by individuals who do not necessarily have a medical degree but have received appropriate training in homeopathy. In contrast, in Greece, the prevailing view is that homeopathy should only be practiced by medical degree holders, a view that, in practice, is often circumvented. However, the fact remains that the official stance toward the field of homeopaths is governed by approaches that rather limit than support the development of the profession. The lack of necessary recognition and organization of the field by the competent state authority creates conditions that foster disorder, in which individuals unrelated to homeopathy can operate, discrediting the practice and potentially endangering the health of citizens.

The main request expressed by homeopaths is for the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity to take the necessary actions to bring about the long-awaited organization of their profession. They have repeatedly addressed the Ministry without any positive outcome. At the same time, at the European level, significant steps are being taken toward the recognition of various branches of alternative medicine. Already in 1997, the European Parliament, with Resolution A4-0075/1997, emphasized the need “to ensure that patients have the broadest possible freedom of therapeutic choices, providing them with the necessary guarantees for the highest possible level of safety and the most accurate information regarding the harmlessness, quality, effectiveness, and potential risks of so-called alternative medicine, as well as protecting patients from individuals who do not possess the required qualifications.”

It is worth emphasizing at this point that homeopathy does not dispute the unity of medicine. The main argument of homeopaths – as well as the British Medical Association – is that homeopathy is an “independent method, distinct from medicine, with its own foundations and training criteria, as well as its own standards of competence and professionalism.”

The central request of the Homeopathic Association of Greece, therefore, is the establishment of the Committee proposed by the European Parliament for the evaluation of homeopaths in Greece. This Committee would be responsible for organizing the profession for the benefit of public information and the health of citizens. The Association has even made specific proposals for actions, such as…

• – The determination of the minimum qualifications for the recognition of public and private schools that will grant the title of Homeopath, in a way that guarantees a three-year educational program.
• – The creation of a registry of homeopaths, which will be divided into two sections: one for medical doctors and one for homeopaths who are not doctors.

Beyond the central issue, the discrimination that homeopaths face on a daily basis significantly complicates their work, simultaneously putting their patients’ health at risk. There are many examples. I will limit myself to mentioning the denial of the right of homeopaths to issue a ring card, which essentially deprives their patients of the possibility of having their homeopath with them in an emergency situation. Furthermore, the obligation of homeopaths to pay VAT raises questions, especially since such an obligation does not exist for doctors of conventional medicine. In this way, patients who choose a homeopath for their treatment are essentially “punished” with an 18% surcharge, when their right to choose their therapist should be guaranteed. The relevant examples are plentiful.

The right to choose in healthcare is fundamental for citizens across Europe. Particularly when various forms of alternative medicine can be used as a complement to conventional medicine, the benefits that may arise are significant. It is also worth noting that the cost of this practice for the National Health System is very low, as homeopathic medicines are inexpensive. A typical example is that a conventional chemotherapy treatment can cost about 1,500 euros, while the corresponding medicine in homeopathy costs only 15 euros.

Dear Minister,

Homeopathy is a method that is already widely applied in our country. The absence of a regulatory framework for the operation of the sector represents an unrealistic approach to a situation that has already been recognized in practice. The relevant state authorities cannot ignore the existing situation. State intervention in the sector will help protect the health of citizens.

Looking forward to your positive response.

With deep respect,

Anna Karamanou