Contribution of homeopathy: the case of antimicrobial resistance

On 16th April, ECHAMP’s expert workshop in Marseille, ‘Contribution of Homeopathy to Society and Patients: the case of antimicrobial resistance’ brought together the perspectives of public health, doctors, scientists and patients to consider the positive contribution complementary medicine, in particular homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine, can make to the growing public health threat of antimicrobial resistance. Bacteria are developing resistance to the effects of antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. This is increasingly recognised as a serious global health threat, requiring action across all government sectors and society, in Europe as elsewhere in the world.

The workshop was chaired by Robbert Van Haselen, Director of the International Institute for Integrated Medicine. ECHAMP member companies were joined at the workshop by French stakeholders to consider how to address this threat in an integrated and co-ordinated way. Amongst the participants, ECHAMP was pleased to welcome Professor Yves Frances, Professor Elias Riad and Professor Evelyne Ollivier from the University of Marseille.

Prof Philippe Hartemann, professor in public health from the University of Nancy, presented the current status and growing cause for concern for public health in Europe. Prof Erik Baars from the University of Applied Sciences in Leiden presented the results of recent research showing that general practitioners additionally trained in integrated or complementary medicine have lower antibiotic prescribing rates.  Dr Henri Carrée, a French homeopathic physician, also trained in pneumology and emergency medicine, shared his experience as a homeopathic doctor, stressing the benefits of an integrated treatment approach, and Robert Johnstone from the European Forum for Good Clinical Practice gave an eloquent plea from the side of the patient for the need to give more importance to the patient’s voice and for greater choice of treatment.

Participants agreed that an integrated approach to medicine can make a valuable therapeutic contribution, resulting in a reduction in the use of antibiotics, to the benefit of health professionals and patients both today and in the longer term.

Copies of the presentations, a report of the meeting and a selection of photographs of the event will shortly be available to full members on the ECHAMP website.