Homeopathy will no longer have a place in the further training regulations of the Bavarian State Medical Association. The additional designation homeopathy was deleted by an overwhelming majority on Saturday at the 80th Bavarian Doctors’ Day in Hof, Upper Franconia. In the future – after a transitional period has expired – this additional qualification can no longer be acquired from the Chamber. However, medical professionals who already have the designation can continue to use it in the future. Only one delegate had voted in Hof to keep the old training regulations, another three abstained.
Many of the approximately 140 delegates present had prepared themselves for a passionate debate. And indeed – according to a spokeswoman, emotions also arose when it came to homeopathy at the 80th Doctors’ Day – there was no doubt that this was about something fundamental. Because one thing is clear: there are two camps within the Bavarian medical community – on the one hand, those who support homeopathic treatment methods and, on the other, those who think nothing of homeopathy.
The vote of this group, which finally prevailed in Hof, is: Homeopathy has no place in continuing medical education, so – as has long been done in some other federal states – out with it.
The Weilheim ENT doctor Christian Lübbers, spokesman for a network critical of homeopathy, is one of those who see this path as no alternative. “The medical irrelevance of homeopathy as a specific drug therapy is indisputable given the current state of knowledge,” Lübbers wrote before the conference in Hof im Bavarian Medical Journal. The clear decision is a confirmation for him. It was – as quoted by the dpa news agency – a “landslide victory for patient safety”. And this is achieved above all by “when homeopathic therapies are not offered at all – no matter where”. For him it is clear that “the claims about homeopathy are implausible and do not agree with established scientific concepts”.
The other camp, on the other hand, was just as passionate about ensuring that young doctors in Bavaria can continue to receive their additional homeopathic qualifications through the chamber in the future. Ulf Riker, specialist in internal medicine, homeopathy and naturopathy in Munich, urged the Bavarian Medical Journal it is urgent to keep the training regulations regarding the alternative treatment method in their previous form. The scientific data on homeopathy has “become more extensive and clearer,” emphasized Riker, who is the regional chairman of the German Central Association of Homeopathic Doctors in Bavaria.
“Every doctor who does homeopathy also knows its limits,” says Riker
A Forsa survey from 2020 showed that 55 percent of those surveyed rely on the beads when they are ill. So that these people do not decide on a treatment method that is ineffective in their specific case, it is necessary that scientifically trained and at the same time homeopathic doctors are at their side – and not “alternative healers”.
Riker had secretly expected the decision against homeopathy, because a campaign against the alternative healing method had been going on for ten years. “I tried to throw good arguments into the balance,” said Riker on Sunday. And of course it is disappointing that his arguments ultimately fail. The statement made by his colleague Lübbers that it is “not about taking something away from the patient”, but rather giving them something – “honesty” https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/. “To have exactly that we always did. Every doctor who does homeopathy also knows its limits, “said Riker. Although a lawsuit against the Hof decision is now being examined, Riker sees little chance that this will lead to anything in the long term.
Concern about financial investors in medicine
A topic that is just as hot for Bavarian doctors as the dispute over homeopathy is the concern that increasingly well-funded investors are taking control of medical services. Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) addressed the issue directly on Friday at the opening ceremony in Hof. He too is critical of the efforts of “profit-oriented financial investors” – especially with a view to the medical care centers (MVZ). “In my opinion, the previous protective measures taken by the federal legislature fall short. That is why the new federal government must act quickly,” said Holetschek. The delegates in Hof followed suit with a resolution. In it they call on the legislature to “prevent investor-operated MVZs from gaining a dominant position”.
In addition, they called on politicians to ensure greater protection for both health care workers and patients – through “strict implementation of the 3G regulation”. According to one demand, educators should also be subject to this regulation in the future.