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© adobestock / Gina Sanders© adobestock / Gina Sanders
Vienna. Sugar globules or healing method? A bitter debate on this issue for years has probably reached its peak these days. In the middle of the current academic year, the Vienna Medical University has eliminated the optional subject of homeopathy. Moreover, it is only recently that complementary medicine had to be incorporated into the law on doctors. This too was not implemented in the end. In addition, a ban on the sale of blood cells in pharmacies is required. While the skeptical movement rejoices, the medical profession affected by the horror reigns. The consequences that may follow are not yet clear.
Students would have suggested that the content of the discussion originally conceived as a critical discussion of the course was inconsistent with the University's commitment to evidence-based medicine, the University of Medicine said. After an examination, they had therefore decided to cancel. For twelve years, this elective pool was offered to students. As the "Wiener Zeitung" discovered, three complaints from study participants have now led to this step.
"Emotional disarmament"
Florian Aigner, member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Critical Thought (GWUP Vienna), believes that this approach is justified. "You deceive people with something that has not been scientifically proven," he says on the phone. Therefore, the step is in the right direction. The GWUP has been involved for years in the discussion "as constructively as possible". But this is repeated again and again in the public debate, as Aigner confirmed. "This is not something that fundamentally determines the future of our health system or the health of Austria," he argued for emotional disarmament among participants.
In the end, the religion war revolves around one question: is homeopathy evidence-based – yes or no? Studies are numerous. The way they are interpreted is however individual. Therefore, no common opinion can probably be obtained in the near future.
The population itself, however, does not seem impressed by the debate. Complementary medicine is more needed than ever. Two-thirds of Austrians take homeopathic medicines. There are clear legal rules for their production and regulation. Since in Austria, homeopathic treatment is in the hands of doctors, safety is also badured, says Thomas Peinbauer of the Austrian Society of Homeopathic Medicine (ÖGHM). In addition, we have been witnessing a standardization of training for some years and the international trend is more and more homeopathic. For example, in Switzerland, it is now integrated into the public health system. In Germany, compulsory insurance covers part of the costs of homeopathic services. In Austria, they are tolerated. And training is also ensured despite the loss of the Medical University, as the companies involved will continue to offer.
Prohibition to sell in pharmacy?
"My main criticism is that some people are still cutting drugs into scientific drugs," says Peinbauer. According to WHO, medicine is a practice-based empirical science, which also includes traditional medicine and thus complementary medicine. In the case of homeopathy, you have to rely on 200 years of experience. In a separate strategy paper, countries are invited to regulate, regulate and implement complementary medicines. This task is also pursued by Austrian companies.
The chamber of pharmacists sees the clients' interest in homeopathic medicines and so it is legitimate to distribute them. President Ulrike Mursch-Edlmayr responds to the request of Patient Advocate Sigrid Pilz to ban sales in the pharmaceutical industry. The federation of the Austrian pharmaceutical industry also opposes such a ban. The priority was education and information, said Secretary General Alexander Herzog. Whether it is conventional medicine or complementary medicine. In the end, each patient decides for themselves.
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