BHA

BMA motions

Homeopathy
* 301 Motion by THE AGENDA COMMITTEE: That this Meeting believes that, in the absence of valid
scientific evidence of benefit:
(i) there should be no further commissioning of, nor funding for, homeopathic remedies or
homeopathic hospitals in the NHS;
(ii) no UK training post should include a placement in homeopathy;
(iii) pharmacists and chemists should remove homeopathic remedies from shelves indicating
they are 'medicines' of any description, and place them on shelves clearly labelled
'placebos'.
301a Motion by SHROPSHIRE DIVISION: That this Meeting demands that homeopathy should not be funded by
the NHS due to lack of convincing evidence that it is effective. In fact there is recent evidence that it does
not work any better than a placebo and can divert patients away from more evidence based therapy that
they may require.
301b Motion by SCOTTISH COUNCIL: That this Meeting believes that, given the complete lack of valid scientific
evidence of benefit:
(i) homeopathy should no longer be funded by the NHS;
(ii) no UK training post should include a placement in homeopathy.
301c Motion by SOUTH DEVON DIVISION: That this Meeting is concerned to improve patients' fully informed
choice, and calls for those pharmacists and chemists regulated by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain (or its successor during 2010 - the General Pharmaceutical Council) to remove homeopathic
remedicines from shelves indicating they are 'medicines' of any description, and to place them on shelves
clearly labelled 'placebos'.
301d Motion by CONFERENCE OF HONORARY SECRETARIES OF BMA DIVISIONS: That this Meeting calls for
there to be no further commissioning of nor funding for homeopathic medicines within or by the NHS
unless or until the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) determines the cost-effectiveness of such
medicines and sets out guidelines and recommendations for their use in the NHS.
301e Motion by SHROPSHIRE LMC: That this Meeting believes there is insufficient clinical evidence to justify
NHS funding for homeopathy clinics.
301f Motion by NORTHAMPTONSHIRE LMC: That this Meeting requests that homeopathy should be first in line
for NHS cuts in this economic crisis since it is unproven and expensive, and patronage by royalty should not
ensure funding for unproven treatments. Homeopathic hospitals should be paid for and funding for
homeopathic drugs should no longer be available on the NHS.

These motions were taken from the BMA website here: http://www.bma.org.uk/whats_on/annual_representative_meeting/index.jsp