Dutch universities should teach homeopathy, the KVHN association of patients undergoing the therapy has urged as the new academic year is about to be opened.

A growing number of doctors are prescribing homeopathic treatment, but not a single medical faculty is willing to become involved in homeopathy. The reason is simple: it is scientifically unproven that homeopathy is really effective.

Additional treatment
The Free University is host to a privately sponsored chair in homeopathy, funded by KVHN. But that does not turn homeopathy into an academic subject which can earn students credits. Dr Gio Meijer, a homeopath, is often approached by students who want to know more about the subject, and she regrets that universities remain aloof:

"Patients should be able to discuss everything with their GP. The patient benefits when doctors are well-informed, and are aware when they can resort to homeopathy. That is, as a treatment in addition to regular medicine."

"Hand back your diploma"
Opponents remain resolutely negative. Emeritus professor of pharmachemistry at the Free University, Henk Timmerman, is one of them. And he does not mince his words:

"Homeopathy is nonsense. Research keeps showing time and again that it does not work. Doctors who engage in it would do well to hand in their doctor's diploma. They are deceiving the patient by all kinds of tomfoolery that makes no sense."

In some other Western countries (like the UK, France and Switzerland, which has a long tradition in the field) students can qualify in homeopathy. That may be due to the fact that homeopathy is held in higher regard there, or, as in the US, that professors are partially paid by the university and partially by the powerful homeopathy lobby. Be that as it may, nowhere is homeopathy considered uncontroversial.

(RNW translation: rk)