Controversy over healing beads

The demand to ban homeopathy on cash costs, has sparked fierce controversy. Health Minister Philipp Rösler has taken the side of the natural healing process.

Federal Health Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP) wants health insurance companies continue to homeopathic treatments. “Basically, nothing speaks against election rates, even with homeopathy,” he told the “Passauer Neue Presse”. “If a health insurance company is taking this route, it can and should you not be denied.” The minister added, however: “It is crucial that the public will not be charged.” The minister speaks out in this context for election rates, which would bring more competition . However, we will review the selection rates overall.

Scientifically unproven
Homeopathic remedies are usually excluded from reimbursement, except for a cash offer of optional tariffs. Many funds also have contracts with the doctors concluded that making the reimbursement of therapies possible. As part of the homeopathic treatment the doctor listened carefully to the patient and treated him with highly diluted products. Studies had shown that rests as globules (beads) and drops administered “powers” do not act themselves, and a possible effect for example on the expectations of those concerned.

In fact, homeopathy is in the purely natural science oriented medicine as ineffective. Yet millions of people take homeopathic remedies. Again and again, some fundamental disputes between critics and proponents of natural healing method. The current dispute SPD-health expert Karl Lauterbach had been fired by demanding to forbid the payment of statutory funds of homeopathy.

Disagreement across party lines
While Health Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP) wants to hold on to it, the Union is divided. CDU-health expert Jens Spahn said. “If the SPD wants to, we may cancel it immediately, because there is no scientific evidence for the benefits,” warns the other hand, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Social Affairs, Monika Stolz (CDU) before the deletion of individual services. “Health insurance companies may choose to offer their members the homeopathy or not,” she said on Monday the news agency dpa. Homeopathy could be a good inexpensive addition. The CSU-social expert Max Straubinger called the discussion in the “Passauer Neue Presse” misguided: “We stand for a comprehensive range of services.”

Greens and the Left are opposed to removal of natural remedies from health insurance. Green Party leader Claudia Roth said that a ban would make those patients who pay attention to healthy lifestyles. The left-expert Martina Bunge said, even holistic approaches are needed.

Homeopathic physicians, but also cash for Homeopathy
The statutory funds defend their homeopathy offers. Given the discussion should not be spending more on doctors and hospitals are now discussing cuts in benefits for the insured, the spokesman said of her association, Florian Lanz. The German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians, emphasized “that homeopathy is effective in practice and economically”. The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers criticized demands ban as “opposition populism”. The Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry warned of rationing and a unit of cash rather than competition.

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