As of: January 26, 2024, 9:46 a.m
By: Jonas Napiletzki
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Globules are an integral part of homeopathic treatment.
© Claus Schunk
The majority of statutory health insurance companies offer voluntary homeopathy services, although their effect has not been scientifically proven.
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) wants to ban this in the future.
District pediatrician Johannes Schiffer believes this initiative is wrong.
In his practice in Hausham, he offers homeopathy as a supplement to conventional medicine - “and most people gratefully accept it,” says the doctor in an interview.
He doesn't think it's helpful to refuse to cover the costs.
Mr. Schiffer, were you surprised by the Health Minister's announcement?
No.
It is known that Karl Lauterbach has this opinion.
And the same push happens every few years.
But let's wait and see what the future brings.
I'm curious to see whether he really gets his way with this.
Pediatrician Johannes Schiffer from Hausham.
© MM
They consider the initiative to be wrong. Why?
The medications are comparatively cheap and can save costs.
In comparison, I prescribe far fewer antibiotics, but in everyday practice more than 90 percent of my patients are prescribed homeopathic remedies at some point.
Especially in pediatrics, the additional offer is very popular with parents.
It would be a shame for them if this was no longer financed.
Do you expect that many patients will then be missed?
I think most of the people who care about it would pay for it themselves if necessary.
A certain number of people are already doing this - not all health insurance companies cover the treatment in their contracts.
And those who haven't paid anything yet but would like to come to me will hopefully still come in the future.
But yes, some patients will certainly forego – at least classic homeopathy with a one-hour anamnesis.
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Are you afraid of financial losses as a result?
I look at it rather calmly.
There have always been ups and downs with the reimbursement of costs. I expect that there will be many exceptions in which the treatment will still be covered.
I have no existential fears at all.
The acceptance and success of homeopathy are far too great for patients to run out at some point.
However, the successes are not proven.
There is no 100% hit rate, but sometimes it works very well.
Unlike in naturopathy, for example, the remedy is selected based on the patient's individual reaction patterns, not based on the diagnosis.
This is a very unique therapeutic construct that is based on Samuel Hahnemann's principle of similarity.
That is why it is difficult to evaluate according to common scientific study standards.
Ultimately, what counts is the improvement for the individual patient.
It would be a shame if these opportunities were not used.
nap