camwatch

Joos S, Musselmann B, Miksch A, et al. The role of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Germany - a focus group study of GPs. BMC Health Serv Res. 2008 Jun 12;8:127. PMID: 18549476

Interesting to read comments from the small sample of 17 general practitioners who were interviewed about their perceptions of CAM, but perhaps even more for the background information about CAM in past and current German health policy.

The discussion of Heilpraktiker alone is more than worth a click:

In addition to physicians there are non-medical, state-licensed practitioners in Germany; the so-called ‘Heilpraktiker’, which were officially recognised by the ‘Heilpraktiker’-law in 1935. A ‘Heilpraktiker’ has to pass an exam on basic medical knowledge and skills at a local public health office to obtain a state license. However, ‘Heilpraktiker’ are not obliged to undertake medical and/or CAM training. ‘Heilpraktiker’ only practice in the ambulatory sector and their services are not covered by the SHI but many private health insurances pay for ‘Heilpraktiker’. Around 10% of patients have a private health insurance in Germany. Moreover, SHI patients increasingly take out an additional private insurance for CAM. Unlike physicians, ‘Heilpraktiker’ do not have to comply strictly with fee schedules and they are allowed to advertise their services to the public. Any CAM therapy can be performed by a ‘Heilpraktiker’ as long as it is consistent with the ‘Heilpraktiker’-law (’avert a danger to the health of the people’). In general, ‘Heilpraktiker’ provide a great variety of CAM therapies. Complications are likely because they perform injections, for instance of homeopathic remedies, and other invasive procedures. The number of ‘Heilpraktiker’ increased from 9.000 in 1993 to nearly 20.000 in 2007. So, with around 60.000 general practitioners (GPs) the ratio of ‘Heilpraktiker’ versus GPs is thought to be 1:3 at present. The majority of ‘Heilpraktiker’ (>90%) are organized within 6 professional associations.

CAMWatch: Posts about free-access, peer-reviewed articles on aspects of complementary medicine theory, practice and policy (about the blogger). This blog is not a source for medical advice.

technorati tags: complementary and alternative medicine

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