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Homoeopathy today has been globally accepted as the No. 1 system of alternative medicine. Our goal should be to set high standards and make it the mainstream system of medicine. Therefore, it is important for us to understand the status of homoeopathy in different countries, because our job is not only to treat patients, but also promote our pathy. UNITED KINGDOM: In 2011, there were 3000+ practitioners using homoeopathy in their everyday practice. The British Homoeopathic Dental Association (BHDA) claimed to have 69 dentists, while the British Association of Homoeopathic Veterinary Surgeons has 36 vets listed as members. The NHS spends approximately £4 million a year on homoeopathy. The three NHS homoeopathic hospitals have been a part of the NHS since it began in 1948. They treat around 200,000 NHS patients per year with homoeopathy. GPs are able to refer NHS patients to qualified and regulated homoeopathic physicians and most private health insurance companies and cash-plans consider homoeopathic treatment a good investment. USA: There is no national licensure in the United States and licensure is determined by State (50 states). All 50 states license DVM’s, where homoeopathy is included within the scope of practice. Thirteen states license naturopathic physicians and homoeopathy is included within their scope of practice. This exists in the States of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, and Washington DC. A prospective student should familiarize themselves with the laws in the state in which they wish to practice. The states of Arizona, Connecticut and Nevada are the only other states in the US that license medical doctors (MD) who practice homoeopathy, osteopathic doctors who practice homoeopathy (DO) and homoeopathic medical assistants. In 2007, National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), approximately 38 percent of adults reported using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in USA. According to the 2007 NHIS survey, 83 million U.S. adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on visits to CAM practitioners and on purchases of CAM products, classes, and materials. Approximately $3.1 billion were spent on homoeopathic medicine and 2.3% of the persons aged 18 or over had consulted a practitioner that year. AUSTRALIA: The Australian Register of Homoeopaths (AROH) is the national register of accredited homoeopathic doctors in Australia. Homoeopathic physicians were the first of the complementary medicine professions to develop government-endorsed National Competency Standards (NCS) for the education of homoeopathic physicians in Australia. The Australian Register of Homoeopaths, a registered company, was created in 1999 to be the national registration body for professional homoeopathic physicians. There are a number of recognized homoeopathic associations in Australia, all of which have representatives on the board of AROH. In order to become a professional member of these associations, practitioners must first register with AROH. The online register shows more than 700 registrants on AROH. Although our research has shown that there are 1000 practitioners in Australia. UAE: As a result of increasing interest in and use of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) therapies in medical practices and as a necessary function of its duty to protect the public interest, the UAE Ministry of Health requires all TCAM physicians and practitioners to comply with professional, ethical and practice standards, and act as responsible agents for their patients. To allow these practitioners to work in UAE a qualifying examination (TCAM exam) is held by MOH about three times a year, and so far more than 200 homeopaths have qualified to practice in UAE. In exercising its licensing authority the Ministry of Health has the inherent power to determine precisely the qualifications a TCAM applicant must possess. It may investigate educational credentials, professional competence, and moral character. The applicant bears the burden to prove his fulfillment of all requirements for licensure. Many other countries like Germany, South Africa, France, Pakistan, Brazil, Nigeria, etc. support homoeopathy very well. This is evident from the advent of many international courses like P. G. (Hom.) London, advanced diploma courses from Australia, USA, etc. Moreover, the Indian government is also planning to extend the existing fiber optical network to rural areas. This means almost 55000 Centers including Community Health Centre & Primary Health Centre will be connected by fiber optics. This promises a better and brighter future for rural health and homoeopathy, through tele-medicine and tele-homoeopathy. Mind Technologies has already treated more than 14,000 patients in Eastern India in a highly successful Tele-homoeopathy pilot project. As a staunch homeopathic doctor each homoeopathic physician should appeal to all his homoeopathic practitioner friends to extend their full support towards development of our genuine system of medicine.
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