June 4, 2015

expert reaction to publication of letters from Prince Charles to Department of Health regarding complementary medicine

Following a judicial review letters between Prince Charles and various government departments have been published, including with the Department of Health on the subject of complementary medicine.

Professor Chris Higgins, Durham University, said:

“Everyone I know involved in improving healthcare would agree with Prince Charles that the NHS should, and increasingly does, consider the ‘whole person’ in order to provide the best care for an individual. However, this debate continues to be clouded by confusion in terminology. So-called ‘complementary medicines’, once demonstrated to be efficacious and not harmful, are indeed increasingly integrated into the NHS, as they should be. However, would it not be irresponsible for the NHS to provide ‘complementary’ or ‘homeopathic’ medicines until they have been shown to be effective and safe? And would not the NHS lose all credibility with the majority of the British public if standards of safety and efficacy for ‘complementary or homeopathic medicines’ were relaxed compared with those more conventional drugs and procedures?”

Prof. Edzard Ernst, Emeritus Professor of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter, said:

“The letters demonstrate yet again that Prince Charles relentlessly meddles in UK health politics and thus disrespects his constitutional role. His arguments in favour of CAM, and in particular homeopathy, show a devastating lack of knowledge and understanding; they are ill-informed, invalid and embarrassingly naïve – but at the same time they are remarkably persistent. Charles tries to give the impression that he is motivated by passion and compassion, but in health care such drivers need solid evidence and expertise. Charles has neither which is not just regrettable, it is arrogant on his part and potentially harmful for public health.”

Declared interests

None declared