"Evidence Check: Homeopathy" in UK parliament

[chaggle]

Martin Robbins makes the same point

You get a sense of this confusion very early on, with lines like: "given the geographical, socioeconomic and cultural diversity in England, [policy on homeopathy] involves a whole range of considerations including, but not limited to, efficacy." I actually have no idea what this means – do medicines work differently in Norfolk from the way they work in Hampshire? The report doesn't elaborate.

[asthmatic camel]

Is anyone actively campaigning against this astonishingly stupid decision?

[Smiles302]

Anyone optimistic there will be an educational campaign? It seemed to be what was implied in the report, with informed choices mentioned a lot...

[John Jackson]

Is anyone actively campaigning against this astonishingly stupid decision?

Anyone optimistic there will be an educational campaign?

I don't know if there are any plans to challenge this decision but if the evidence check committee recommended that homeopathy be removed from the NHS because it doesn't work and the government still refuse to do so then I can't see what else can be done.

The problem, as far as I can see, is that homeopathy is too small an issue. Yes there's often heated exchanges between homeopaths/believers and skeptics at various levels but as a social issue I really don't think anyone (Joe Public) really gives two hoots about homeopathy. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of people still hadn't heard of it.

In many ways, I think that trying to educate people about homeopathy simply ends up raising the profile of homeopathy - raising public awareness might just increase demand: the problem of unintended consequences!

Ms Milton said the Government welcomed the MPs' report but "remain of the view that the local National Health Service and clinicians are best placed to make decisions on what treatment is appropriate for their patients".

I guess if there's one area where some pressure could be applied it's with the "local National Health Service and clinicians". If these are the people who will be spending taxpayers' money on homeopathy then they are the ones who should be justifying their decisions.

[asthmatic camel]

I submitted scrapping homeopathy on the NHS as an idea on the government's spending challenge site. Probably a waste of time but better than doing nothing.

[chaggle]

I submitted scrapping homeopathy on the NHS as an idea on the government's spending challenge site. Probably a waste of time but better than doing nothing.

That's fun!

I proposed keeping it and added ear candling, cow urine, breatharianism and iridology as being equally efficacious.