THE Humanist Society Scotland is urging Health Secretary Shona Robison to end NHS funding of homeopathy.
The move comes after NHS England announced they would stop funding such treatments – a decision taken after a consultation period showed that the treatments were not clinically effective or cost-effective.
The Humanist Society is now calling for a similar review north of the Border after research by the Good Thinking Society found that Scotland spent more that £1.7 million on homeopathic practices during 2015/16. Their report found NHS Glasgow to be the biggest spenders on the treatments at £1.2m. The society wants these funds redirected towards more conventional treatments.
If NHS England implement the changes, Scotland will be the inly part of the UK in which homeopathy is funded.
The chief executive of the Humanist Society Scotland, Gordon MacRae – who has written to Robison – said it is vital that NHS spending is directed towards meaningful and effective treatments.
“Homeopathy has continually been shown, time after time, to be no more effective than a simple placebo effect,” he said. “The fact that the NHS in Scotland is spending more than £1.5m a year on unproven remedies will stick in the throats of patients and campaigners who can see better uses for this resource in the NHS.
“Our NHS health treatments should be directed by robust scientific studies which show actual medical benefits.”
In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government recognises that some complementary and alternative medicines, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions.
“It is for individual NHS boards to decide which therapies they make available based on national and local priorities and the needs of their resident populations, in line with national guidance.”
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