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[ID] => 19086
[post_author] => 1367
[post_date] => 2019-10-09 13:24:42
[post_date_gmt] => 2019-10-09 12:24:42
[post_content] => A report into homeopathy produced and then suppressed by Australia's leading health research body has finally been released after years of delay.
The 2012 report by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), published after intensive lobbying from homeopaths in Australia with support from others around the world, identifies some positive aspects of homeopathy.
Carried out for NHMRC by expert Prof Karen Grimmer of the University of South Australia (UniSA), it found 'encouraging evidence' for the effectiveness of homeopathy for five medical conditions, including otitis media (ear infections), upper respiratory tract infection in adults, and some side effects of cancer treatment.
It is in contrast to a 2015 report by the same council which was highly critical of homeopathy. That report - known as The Australian Report - has been widely cited as evidence of homeopathy's failings by key bodies around the world, including the NHS, causing widespread damage to the sector's reputation.
Rachel Roberts, Chief Executive of the Homeopathy Research Institute backed the Release the Report campaign for publication of the 2012 report, said: "The first report found some good evidence that homeopathy works for certain medical conditions. More studies are needed to confirm and build on these findings, but some evidence is very different from no evidence.”
After receiving the 2012 version, NHMRC had hired a new contractor to review the evidence on homeopathy again, leading to the 2015 revised version. Figures in the homeopathy world criticised the second report for applying "arbitrary and unprecedented rules" to the trials included in the research.
The 2012 version only came to light following Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.
NHMRC CEO Prof Anne Kelso had already indicated that the council had shifted its position on the first report, saying in August 2019 that “Contrary to some claims, the [2012] review did not conclude that homeopathy was ineffective.”
NHMRC is now under investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman over its review of the evidence on homeopathy with a verdict expected soon.
The Society of Homeopaths, through 4Homeopathy, has been involved in supporting the Australian homeopathy community.
Linda Wicks, Chair of the Society, said: “We welcome the transparency surrounding the release of the suppressed NHMRC 2012 report. We are delighted with the result of the global Release the Report Campaign and the excellent work carried out by the international community.”
Read the 2012 report, The Effectiveness of Homeopathy, here
[post_title] => NHMRC report released after seven-year delay in Australia
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[post_modified] => 2019-10-09 13:30:50
[post_modified_gmt] => 2019-10-09 12:30:50
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[guid] => https://homeopathy-soh.org/?p=19086
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A report into homeopathy produced and then suppressed by Australia’s leading health research body has finally been released after years of delay.
The 2012 report by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), published after intensive lobbying from homeopaths in Australia with support from others around the world, identifies some positive aspects of homeopathy.
Carried out for NHMRC by expert Prof Karen Grimmer of the University of South Australia (UniSA), it found ‘encouraging evidence’ for the effectiveness of homeopathy for five medical conditions, including otitis media (ear infections), upper respiratory tract infection in adults, and some side effects of cancer treatment.
It is in contrast to a 2015 report by the same council which was highly critical of homeopathy. That report – known as The Australian Report – has been widely cited as evidence of homeopathy’s failings by key bodies around the world, including the NHS, causing widespread damage to the sector’s reputation.
Rachel Roberts, Chief Executive of the Homeopathy Research Institute backed the Release the Report campaign for publication of the 2012 report, said: “The first report found some good evidence that homeopathy works for certain medical conditions. More studies are needed to confirm and build on these findings, but some evidence is very different from no evidence.”
After receiving the 2012 version, NHMRC had hired a new contractor to review the evidence on homeopathy again, leading to the 2015 revised version. Figures in the homeopathy world criticised the second report for applying “arbitrary and unprecedented rules” to the trials included in the research.
The 2012 version only came to light following Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.
NHMRC CEO Prof Anne Kelso had already indicated that the council had shifted its position on the first report, saying in August 2019 that “Contrary to some claims, the [2012] review did not conclude that homeopathy was ineffective.”
NHMRC is now under investigation by the Commonwealth Ombudsman over its review of the evidence on homeopathy with a verdict expected soon.
The Society of Homeopaths, through 4Homeopathy, has been involved in supporting the Australian homeopathy community.
Linda Wicks, Chair of the Society, said: “We welcome the transparency surrounding the release of the suppressed NHMRC 2012 report. We are delighted with the result of the global Release the Report Campaign and the excellent work carried out by the international community.”