TRUELY COST EFFECTIVE HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT

A 1996 study of 130,000 prescriptions confirmed the results of the 1991 French government report (see below) and suggested significant benefits and savings as a result of homeopathic treatment. This survey also noted that the number of paid sick leave days by patients under the care of homeopathic physicians were 3.5 times less (598 days/year) than patients under the care of general practitioners (2,017 days/year). These figures sug- gest further benefit and savings to the homeopathic approach to care.

A 1991 French Government Report showed a significantly reduced cost from homeopathic care versus conventional medical care. The totality of costs associated with homeopathic care per physicians was approximately one-half of the totality of care provided by conventional primary care physicians.

This study in Seattle, Washington compared the utilization and cost of homeopathic, naturopathic, and acupuncture services, and it found that homeopathic care was the least costly and that patient visits to homeopaths were less than to other alternative care professionals.

One pilot study in Great Britain suggested that doctors practicing homeopathic medicine issued fewer prescriptions and at a lower cost than their conventional medical colleagues (Swayne, 1992), while another pilot study in Germany evaluated a single homeopathic dentist's practice and suggested that it was more cost-effective than conventional dental care (Fedlhaus, 1993).