Homeopathy is now used worldwide. It is recognized by the World Health Organization as a valid form of healthcare, making it the second fastest growing and widely used medical system in the world. Our goal should be to set high standards and make it the mainstream system of medicine. Therefore, it is important for us to understand the status of homeopathy in different countries, because our job is not only to treat patients, but also popularize our pathy.
UNITED KINGDOM: 42% of British physicians refer patients to homeopaths. The Royal family has used homeopathy for three generations.In the United Kingdom Homeopathy treatment is available and funded by the National Health Service (NHS), and some health insurance companies will recognize treatment by homeopaths. As a result, the United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union with public-sector hospitals for complementary/alternative medicine. Indeed, there are National Health Service homeopathic hospitals in London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Bristol, and Tunb ridge Wells. They treat around 200,000 NHS patients per year with homeopathy. GPs are able to refer NHS patients to qualified and regulated homeopathic physicians and most private health insurance companies and cash-plans consider homeopathic treatment a good investment. Dr. Clarke was one of the most eminent homeopaths of England. He was also a consulting physician at the London Homoeopathic Hospital. There are currently five homeopathic hospitals, and the oldest, the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, has been there for 100 years.
AUSTRALIA: Homoeopathic physicians were the first of the complementary medicine professions to develop government-endorsed National Competency Standards (NCS) for the education of homeopathic physicians in Australia.
There are a number of recognized homeopathic associations in Australia, all of which have representatives on the board of AROH. The Australian Homeopathic Association is Australia’s only national professional association for homeopathic practitioners and has branches in the States of Australia. Branch Committees provide the day-to-day running of the Association in their State, including the organization of local seminars, while the National Council of the Association (made up of representatives from each Branch) sets the strategic direction and overall policies, and provides such services as are considered best achieved at a national level. Significant achievements are made via the combined energies of the committees throughout Australia, all of whom are unpaid volunteers. Dr. Von Boenninghausen was born in 1785 in an Australian family.
USA: There is no national licensure in the United States and licensure is determined by State (50 states). All 50 states license DVM’s, where homeopathy is included within the scope of practice. Thirteen states license naturopathic physicians and homeopathy is included within their scope of practice. This exists in the States of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, and Washington DC. The market for homeopathic medicine in the United States is a multi-billion dollar industry. Homeopathic remedies are recognized and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies under strict guidelines. The states of Arizona and Nevada are the only states in the country that license homeopathic medical doctors and homeopathic medical assistants. Thirteen states license naturopathic physicians and homeopathy is included within their scope of practice. Several states include homeopathy within the scope of practice for chiropractic physicians and acupuncturists. Dr. Kent was born in Woodhull, New York in the United States of America.
GERMANY: In Germany, homeopathy is one of the acknowledged peculiar forms of treatment. There are about 30% physicians consider homeopathy effective. he surveys found that pediatric homeopathy is quite popular in Germany, particularly among children from families with a higher socioeconomic status. Nowadays, homeopathy attracts more and more friends among the German population. In medical schools, the number of homeopathic courses offered has increased
FRANCE: Homeopathy is particularly popular in France, where it is the leading alternative therapy. In 1982, 16 percent of the population used homeopathic medicine, rising to 29 percent in 1987, and to 36 percent in 1992 (8). In 2004, 62 percent of French mothers used homeopathic medicines in the previous 12 months (9). A survey of French pharmacists was conducted in 2004 and found that an astounding 94.5 percent reported advising pregnant women to use homeopathic medicines (10).
Many other countries like South Africa, Pakistan, Brazil, Nigeria, etc. support homeopathy very well. This is evident with the advent of many international courses like P. G. (Hom.) London, advanced diploma courses from Australia, USA, etc.
