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HEALTH WATCH: Complementing Traditional Medicine

Posted on: Wednesday, 12 October 2005, 12:01 CDT

MAKING alternative health therapies like acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy and herbal medicine available on the NHS could benefit the health and wealth of Britain, according to a report published today.

The nine-month independent study, commissioned by the Prince of Wales, involved case studies from three health centres ! in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Glastonbury and north London ! and a comprehensive literature review.

It found that many patients derived significant benefits from accessing the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies ! prescription costs were halved and there was a 30 per cent drop in GP consultations.

Economist Christopher Smallwood, author of the report, says the findings show the need for more research into the cost- effectiveness of the %Big Five& CAM therapies ! osteopathy and chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy and herbal medicine ! and their potential for eliminating gaps in current NHS services.

The weight of evidence we have examined suggests that complementary and alternative medicines could play a much larger role in the delivery of health care, and help to fill recognised gaps in health care provision,&& he says.

We believe there is a strong case for health ministers to recommend that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence carry out a full clinical assessment of the cost- effectiveness of such therapies.&&

Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, says the report represents an impressive first step to identifying the contribution CAM therapies can make: %%75 per cent of patients want CAM therapies to be on the NHS. It&s not just a middle-class fad. The NHS needs to listen.&&

WHO BENEFITS FROM CAM THERAPIES?

Sufferers of chronic and complex conditions such as back pain, osteo- arthritis, those with psycho-social conditions such as depression, anxiety and stress, and those in palliative care facing pain and nausea have been identified as potentially benefiting from CAM therapies.

Acupuncture was found to be most effective for musculo-skeletal conditions such as back pain, osteo-arthritis of the knee, and post- operative pain and nausea.

Manipulative therapies were also helpful for back, shoulder and neck pain.

Herbal medicine was found to help arthritis, heart and circulatory problems, the common cold and some prostate problems.

Case studies analysed in the report suggest that many patients derived significant benefits from CAM therapies, noticing improvements in specific conditions as well as in their general health and sense of well-being.

THE REAL COSTS OF ILL-HEALTH

The report found that where CAM treatments are sufficiently effective to be used as alternatives to conventional treatments ! such as herbal medicines, or using acupuncture for back pain or osteo-arthritis ! the associated costs are likely to be lower.

Although the direct costs may be higher if CAM treatments are used in conjunction with conventional medicine, they may be outweighed by the economy-wide benefits of getting people back to work faster.

The economic costs of people being away from work are very considerable. The economy loses pounds 11 billion ! 1 per cent of GDP ! to back pain alone. There are large economic costs to other conditions.&&

For fact sheets on complementary and alternative therapies, go to www.bupa.co.uk/health

Source: Belfast News Letter, The

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