National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices in the Brazilian Health System: steps towards the expansion of homeopathy

Sir,

Homeopathy was brought to Brazil in 1840 by the French doctor Benoit Mure. Since then, it has experienced times of social recognition and a repudiation. Homeopathy had important developments during the first decades of the 20th century, a significant fall in importance in the 1940s and 1950s and a rebirth in the 1970s. During the most recent decades it has increased in importance and recognition: it gained recognition as a medical speciality in 1980 and it was introduced officially as part of the core practices of the Brazilian Health System in 1999.

However, a fundamental step was taken in May 2006 when the National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices was published by Health Ministry.[ ¹ ] This Policy embodies principles of the Brazilian health reform movement, underpinned by constitutional principles (universality, comprehensiveness, equity, social control and popular participation) and organizational principles (hierarchy of services, decentralization of management and regionalization). Its objectives are to:

• (a) integrate homeopathy and other practices (Acupuncture, Thermalism and Phytotherapy) in the primary care of the whole Brazilian national health system, which serves about 150 million people;

• (b) increase access and contribute towards making the system more effective;

• (c) foment innovative practices that contribute to the sustainable development of communities; and

• (d) strengthen social participation and control.

Development is expected of homeopathy in different areas, including: assistance , integration at all levels of the system with emphasis on primary care; economic support , quality of medicines, information and good practice; pharmacy , creation of pharmacies to produce and distribute remedies; continuing professional education , different formats of courses for health professionals, system managers and the general population; evaluation , production of protocols and follow-up evaluation; research, to put homeopathy on a list of research priorities and support international collaboration.

The Policy was produced following the legal foundations of the Brazilian Constitution National Health System principles, professional and popular movements and WHO recommendations.[ ² ] These factors give us confidence that homeopathy will grow substantially in importance in the coming years in Brazil.

• References

• 1 Brazil. Health Ministry. Primary Care Secretariat. Basic Attention Department. National Policy of Integrative and Complementary Practices in the Unified Health System. Brasília: 2006, pp. 92.
• 2 World Health Organization. Traditional Medicine Strategy 2002–2005. Geneve: 2002, pp. 65.