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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Homeopathy 'could be blacklisted' | Homeopathy 'could be blacklisted' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ministers are considering whether homeopathy should be put on a blacklist of treatments GPs in England are banned from prescribing, the BBC has learned. | Ministers are considering whether homeopathy should be put on a blacklist of treatments GPs in England are banned from prescribing, the BBC has learned. |
| The controversial practice is based on the principle that "like cures like", but critics say patients are being given useless sugar pills. | The controversial practice is based on the principle that "like cures like", but critics say patients are being given useless sugar pills. |
| The Faculty of Homeopathy said patients supported the therapy. | The Faculty of Homeopathy said patients supported the therapy. |
| A consultation is expected to take place in 2016. | A consultation is expected to take place in 2016. |
| The total NHS bill for homeopathy, including homeopathic hospitals and GP prescriptions, is thought to be about £4m. | The total NHS bill for homeopathy, including homeopathic hospitals and GP prescriptions, is thought to be about £4m. |
| How homeopathic pills are made | How homeopathic pills are made |
| Homeopathy is based on the concept that diluting a version of a substance that causes illness has healing properties. | Homeopathy is based on the concept that diluting a version of a substance that causes illness has healing properties. |
| So pollen or grass could be used to create a homeopathic hay-fever remedy. | So pollen or grass could be used to create a homeopathic hay-fever remedy. |
| One part of the substance is mixed with 99 parts of water or alcohol, and this is repeated six times in a "6c" formulation or 30 times in a "30c" formulation. | One part of the substance is mixed with 99 parts of water or alcohol, and this is repeated six times in a "6c" formulation or 30 times in a "30c" formulation. |
| The end result is combined with a lactose (sugar) tablet. | The end result is combined with a lactose (sugar) tablet. |
| Homeopaths say the more diluted it is, the greater the effect. Critics say patients are getting nothing but sugar. | Homeopaths say the more diluted it is, the greater the effect. Critics say patients are getting nothing but sugar. |
| Common homeopathic treatments are for asthma, ear infections, hay-fever, depression, stress, anxiety, allergy and arthritis. | Common homeopathic treatments are for asthma, ear infections, hay-fever, depression, stress, anxiety, allergy and arthritis. |
| Source: British Homeopathic Association | Source: British Homeopathic Association |
| But the NHS itself says: "There is no good-quality evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition." | But the NHS itself says: "There is no good-quality evidence that homeopathy is effective as a treatment for any health condition." |
| The Good Thinking Society has been campaigning for homeopathy to be added to the NHS blacklist - known formally as Schedule 1 - of drugs that cannot be prescribed by GPs. | The Good Thinking Society has been campaigning for homeopathy to be added to the NHS blacklist - known formally as Schedule 1 - of drugs that cannot be prescribed by GPs. |
| Drugs can be blacklisted if there are cheaper alternatives or if the medicine is not effective. | Drugs can be blacklisted if there are cheaper alternatives or if the medicine is not effective. |
| After the Good Thinking Society threatened to take their case to the courts, Department of Health legal advisers replied in emails that ministers had "decided to conduct a consultation". | After the Good Thinking Society threatened to take their case to the courts, Department of Health legal advisers replied in emails that ministers had "decided to conduct a consultation". |
| Officials have now confirmed this will take place in 2016. | Officials have now confirmed this will take place in 2016. |
| Debate | Debate |
| Simon Singh, the founder of the Good Thinking Society, said: "Given the finite resources of the NHS, any spending on homeopathy is utterly unjustifiable. | Simon Singh, the founder of the Good Thinking Society, said: "Given the finite resources of the NHS, any spending on homeopathy is utterly unjustifiable. |
| "The money spent on these disproven remedies can be far better spent on treatments that offer real benefits to patients." | "The money spent on these disproven remedies can be far better spent on treatments that offer real benefits to patients." |
| But Dr Helen Beaumont, a GP and the president of the Faculty of Homeopathy, said other drugs such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depression would be a better target for saving money, as homeopathic pills had a "profound effect" on patients. | But Dr Helen Beaumont, a GP and the president of the Faculty of Homeopathy, said other drugs such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) for depression would be a better target for saving money, as homeopathic pills had a "profound effect" on patients. |
| She told the BBC News website: "Patient choice is important; homeopathy works, it's widely used by doctors in Europe, and patients who are treated by homeopathy are really convinced of its benefits, as am I." | She told the BBC News website: "Patient choice is important; homeopathy works, it's widely used by doctors in Europe, and patients who are treated by homeopathy are really convinced of its benefits, as am I." |
| The result of the consultation would affect GP prescribing, but not homeopathic hospitals which account for the bulk of the NHS money spent on homeopathy. | The result of the consultation would affect GP prescribing, but not homeopathic hospitals which account for the bulk of the NHS money spent on homeopathy. |
| Estimates suggest GP prescriptions account for about £110,000 per year. | Estimates suggest GP prescriptions account for about £110,000 per year. |
| And any decision would not affect people buying the treatments over the counter or privately. | And any decision would not affect people buying the treatments over the counter or privately. |
| Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was criticised for supporting a parliamentary motion on homeopathy, but in an interview last year argued "when resources are tight we have to follow the evidence". | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was criticised for supporting a parliamentary motion on homeopathy, but in an interview last year argued "when resources are tight we have to follow the evidence". |
| Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman, told the BBC: "With rising health demands, we have a duty to make sure we spend NHS funds on the most effective treatments. | Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman, told the BBC: "With rising health demands, we have a duty to make sure we spend NHS funds on the most effective treatments. |
| "We are currently considering whether or not homeopathic products should continue to be available through NHS prescriptions. | "We are currently considering whether or not homeopathic products should continue to be available through NHS prescriptions. |
| "We expect to consult on proposals in due course." | "We expect to consult on proposals in due course." |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |