The effectiveness of homeopathy cannot be scientifically proven. Still, cash registers pay subsidies. Still. Minister Lauterbach puts contributions to the test.
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach wants to review the financing of homeopathic treatments by statutory health insurance companies. The SPD politician told “Spiegel”:
“We will therefore examine whether homeopathy can be deleted as a legal service.”
This refers to the services that health insurance companies can offer in addition to legal services. Some health insurance companies offer reimbursement for homeopathic remedies.
No effect has been proven other than the placebo effect.
Homeopathic remedies can be based on herbal, mineral or animal substances. Extremely diluted substances are applied, for example, in the form of small balls (spheres).
The scientific consensus is that no effect has been proven for homeopathic treatments that go beyond the placebo effect.
Prescriptions for homeopathic remedies are declining
Lauterbach had already criticized homeopathy in the past for its lack of scientific evidence. In March, he welcomed the German Medical Association’s decision, via Twitter, that medical societies should not offer further education in homeopathy in the future.
In this context, the Ministry of Health refers to the trend of recent years: According to data from the Federal Pharmaceutical Industry Association, both prescriptions and sales of homeopathic preparations in statutory health insurance are falling.
Health insurers spent about nine million euros on homeopathic services such as history and medicine in 2019, compared to just 6.7 million euros in 2020.
Arguing at programmed traffic lights?
Lauterbach, as a member of the Bundestag, has repeatedly sharply criticized this support system. In 2019, he called for health insurance companies to be barred from homeopathy co-financing. But as Minister of Health, the politician has kept a low profile on this issue so far.
Resistance can be expected from the ranks of the Greens, who disagree over homeopathy. The FDP, on the other hand, demands that homeopathic treatments no longer be paid for by statutory health insurance funds in the future.
Source: ZDF
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