July 21, 2017

expert reaction to NHS England draft guideline on reducing wasteful and ineffective drug prescription, which includes that homeopathy should generally not be prescribed

NHS England has published it’s draft guidelines on items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care, the list includes that homeopathy should generally not be prescribed.

Prof. Edzard Ernst, Emeritus Professor, University of Exeter, said:

“Since it was first invented ~200 years ago, homeopathy has been criticised for flying in the face of science and common sense. We have now known for decades that the most reliable studies fail to show that highly diluted homeopathic remedies are more than placebos. For years we have known that homeopathy can cause considerable harm, for instance, when it is used as an alternative to effective therapies. The decision to stop reimbursing it is therefore long overdue. The NHS has a legal, moral and ethical duty to spend our scarce funds wisely; I cannot think of a less prudent way to spend them than on homeopathy.”

* https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/consultation/items-routinely-prescribed/

Declared interests

None received.