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Naturalhealth - epetition reply

20 July 2007

We received a petition asking:

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Make treatments in acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbalism, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, naturopathy, osteopathy and reflexology freely available under the National Health Service."

Details of Petition:

"Many Natural Health Therapies will greatly benefit patients by being used as preventative medicine. Allopathic medicine - traditionally - only becomes involved when a patient feels ill and becomes sick. By including natural health treatments, in all medical centres, patients will receive healing in mind and spirit, as well as in their physical body."

Read the Government's response

The Government recognises the need for more research on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). We are addressing this issue through the Department of Health's capacity building programme, which in April 2003, provided funding for research in CAM (£1.3million for the first round of a research capacity building scheme and £324,000 for three qualitative research projects on CAM in the care of patients with cancer). This funding will help develop the evidence base for CAM in healthcare.

Although the Department of Health provides strategic leadership to the NHS and social care organisations in England, it is for local NHS organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people. These bodies are best placed to respond to patients' concerns and needs, so it is their responsibility to commission healthcare packages for NHS patients. The clinical and cost-effectiveness, safety and availability of suitably qualified practitioners, as well as evidence in support of specific therapies, are all issues that have to be taken into account when deciding what treatment to provide. Primary Care Trusts are best placed to inform on local policy on complementary therapies and whether there are funds available in the budget for this type of medicine.

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