World experts at Parliament research event
Academics, scientists and politicians from all over the world attended a unique Homeopathy Research Institute (HRI) reception at the Houses of Parliament where a £2million fund-raising appeal was launched.
The event, a first in the world of homeopathy, was sponsored by MP David Tredinnick, chair of the Parliamentary Group for Integrated Healthcare and an elected member of the Health Select Committee, with the aim of promoting scientific research in homeopathy.
More than 150 guests, from as far as the USA, attended the event in May, which also attracted peers, MPs and NHS healthcare providers, as well as representatives from the world of homeopathy.
The broad guest list enabled experts in homeopathy research and experienced clinicians to mingle over afternoon tea with those interested in finding out more about this field, including NHS consultants, politicians such as Lord Stone of Blackheath and the Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, members of the Health Select Committee and advisors to the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
HRI chairman Dr Alex Tournier said the institute was particularly pleased to receive cross-party support and to welcome such well-informed guests as Dr Michael Dixon OBE (a GP who is also chairman of the NHS Alliance and a director of the College of Medicine) and Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (member of the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee which carried out a review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2000 and Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Alternative and Complementary Medicine during the 1990s).
The speeches were opened by host David Tredinnick MP who made an impassioned speech about the value of homeopathy for day-to-day health problems. He stressed the potential cost-benefits of integrating homeopathy into the NHS, the need for homeopathy research to help achieve such integration and therefore the necessity of an organisation such as the HRI.
Prof Kate Thomas gave five key reasons why we need research in homeopathy, based on her 25 years experience in academic and health services research, with a special interest in complementary therapies and their potential role in the NHS. Referring to the ‘evidence check’ into homeopathy carried out by the Science and Technology Select Committee into homeopathy carried out by the Science and Technology Select Committee in 2009, Prof Thomas said: “The committee sought to dismiss homeopathy as “scientifically implausible”, but to me good science should be excited by anomalies, they’re often a sign that we’ve got something to learn.”
The final presentation, by Dr Tournier, began by acknowledging the controversial nature of homeopathy and stating the need for objective, rational exploration of this subject. He explained: “I believe we need to know. We need to find out the truth, or more probably the truths, behind homeopathy – whether it’s about water structures, the placebo effect or the benefits of holistic care.”
Dr Peter Fisher, clinical director at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, said: “Despite a sceptical and sometimes cynical campaign against it, homeopathy remains very popular, and that has been reflected in the attitudes of MPs. The HRI’s lively and well-attended event brought together a wide range of people and groups involved in homeopathy in diverse ways. It was a great opportunity to exchange views and discuss research ideas, as well as a morale-booster. Well done, HRI!”
The HRI is an independent Institute, relying completely on donations. Dr Tournier said they were hoping to raise £2million for vital research into whether homeopathy works for specific conditions, and if so, how and why homeopathy works.
Further details on the HRI’s fund-raising strategy and how you can contribute to this appeal can be found on our website www.homeoinst.org.