The results come just months after a study in The Lancet concluded that using homoeopathy was no better than taking dummy drugs. The Swiss-UK review of 110 trials found no convincing evidence the treatment worked any better than a placebo. The row over homoeopathy has been raging for years. The therapy is based on the principle of treating like with like. For instance, someone with an allergy, for example, who was using homoeopathic medicines would attempt to beat it with an ultra-diluted dose of an agent that would cause the same symptoms.

         Dr. David Spense, Clinical Director and Consultant Physician at Bristol Homoeopathic Hospital and Chairman of the British Homoeopathic Association, a co-author of the new study, said: “These results clearly demonstrate the value of homoeopathy in the NHS.”

         All the patients were referred by their GP or hospital specialist and many had tried conventional treatment first without success. Professor Matthias Egger, of the University of Berne, who worked on The Lancet study said the study was weakened by the lack of a comparison group. He also questioned the validity of the way the study recorded improvements in patients’ conditions.

         “Patients were simply asked by their homoeopathic doctor whether they felt better, and it is well known that in this situation many patients will come up with the answer the doctor wants to hear.”

         MADURAI, OCTOBER. 20: Tamil Nadu Homoeopathic Association, Madurai Chapter has organized a one day seminar titled “ PEGASUS 2005” at Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce auditorium on 4th December 2005 in which Dr. D. P. Rastogi, Dr. Parinaz J Humranwala and Dr. E. S. Rajendran are participating. Dr.Prem Kumar, organizing secretary says “We have received very good response and we planned to start the seminar sharply at 9-00am”.

Dr.Anbumani

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 13: As part of the strategy to main stream AYUSH (Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy Systems etc.) and reinforce healthcare delivery through Primary Health Network,

the Government has decided to appoint AYUSH doctors in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres. Initially, AYUSH doctors and medicines would be made available in single doctor Primary Health Centres and two doctor Community Health Centres in every District, to give AYUSH Health Care System, a boost. This was disclosed by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, while addressing the International Ayurveda Congress, here today.

        Dr. Ramadoss said AYUSH is centric to the National Rural Health Mission launched recently. Its integration process in the States is encouraged by a Centrally-sponsored Scheme under which financial assistance will be provided for establishing outdoor and indoor facilities of AYUSH services in Allopathic Hospitals. The scheme will later be extended to District Hospitals to have AYUSH Wings and promote integrated health delivery system. He said this will be useful to the States where AYUSH facilities are either not available or negligible. The judicious integration of health facilities will lead to improvement in their health indices.

         CHENNAI, NOV.10: Inaugurating the induction program for the new students of Siddha, Ayurveda and Homoeopathy at Sri Sairam Medical College, Dr.G.Ganapathy, Joint Director,IM&H said” Now the alternative medicines are entering the global level and World Health Organisation would recognise soon. Many incurable disease are being cured with alternative Medicines”. He also quoted some literature from Siddha on cancer cures and baldness. Dr.R.Gnanasambandam, President ,Tamil Nadu Homoeopathy Medical Council and Dr.M.Mahender, ENT Surgeon offered felicitation. Dr.V. Rufus, Principal, Sri Sairam Homoeopathy Medical College, Dr.R.Devdas, Principal, Sri Sairam ayurveda Medical College, Dr.A.Kumaravel, Principal, Sri Sairam Siddha Medical College also spoke. Mr.M.Vasu, Secretary of Sairam Groups presided over the function. Mr. Sai prakash, trustee also honoured this special occasion. The students were presented with awards.

Panabaka Lakshmi

VELLORE, NOV18: Union Minister of State for Health, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi on Wednesday said the Central Government has taken all steps to upgrade primary health centres in the state.Later, addressing the gathering on the second day of multimedia campaign at Arcot,Union Minister of State for Railways Shri.R. Velu said the Central Government had allotted Rs. 24,000 crore to modernise railway departments.

       The project would be executed within five years. The government has also allotted Rs. 17,500 crores to improve safety measures in the railways. He said the Central Government is planning to incorporate ancient medicines like Siddha, Ayurvedic and Unani as part of medical curriculum to help doctors. Explaining the ancient method of medicine placed in a stall put up by National Siddha Research Centre, he said there are around 100 kinds of herbal plants and medicines exhibited there that would cure diseases without any side effect.He also said that the central government is providing several welfare schemes through its 52 departments to the public. He said both State and Central governments should work together for the betterment of the society.

       A free medical camp was also organised and about ten doctors and 15 medical practitioners had taken part in the camp. Treatment was given for general diseases, cardiac ailments, diabetes, tuberculosis and skin diseases under Siddha and Homoeopathic systems. Director of the Siddha Research Institute Dr. G. Velusamy, Deputy Director of Health Services in Vellore Dr. Somasundaram, Deputy Director (Medicine), Vellore Dr. Purushotham Vijayakumkar and Field Publicity officer Dr. T Sivakumar were present.

         NAGERCOIL, NOV.15: The Tamil Nadu Health Minister Thiru N. Thalavai Sundaram released the book “Oppattra Maruthuvam” contributed by Dr. K.C.Chidambara Natarajan. Dr.N.Subramanaim, principal, Hahnemann Homoeopathy Medical college, Dr.Kumaresan Editor, homoeopathy Sudar, Dr.Navaneetha Krishnan, Paediatrician, Dr.K.Chandran, Former president TNHA salem chapter also participated. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, president of India has sent a message honouring Dr. K.C.Chidambara Natarajan.

         SRINAGAR, NOV 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Homoeopathic Doctors Association (Kashmir Division) has thanked the chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for re-appointing an “honest and dedicated” IAS officer Sonali Kumar as principal secretary to the government who according to them during her previous short term had done a “great and commendable job” for the overall betterment of health and medical education department and upliftment of homoeopathy. In a statement the association said,“ Mrs Kumar had earlier taken some bold steps.

         The association congratulates her for her re-appointment as principal secretary with the hope that she would take some commendable steps for development of homoeopathic in the state, particularly clearing the file for creating 30 posts for homoeopathic medical officers. The association has also requested newly appointed principal secretary to give due consideration in centrally sponsored schemes and a homoeopathic medical college be opened in Jammu and Kashmir.”

         MADURAI,OCT.23: Tamil Nadu Homoeopathic Association, Madurai Chapter hosted a CME program at Hotel Saratha Rajans. Dr. P.Subramanian, President of the chapter presented his speech on Dermatological Conditions cured with Homoeopathy with audio visual Audio Visual aids. This regular monthly meeting was organized by Dr.Premkumar and his associates. Dr.Veera Balaji Kumar proposed vote of thanks.

Dr. Gerard

WESTEND.OCT.28. Dr. Gerard Bocquee, a pioneer Medical practitioner,research scholar and founder of Homoeopathic Medical college in Australia criticized that lancet study is biased. He quoted the study: “we analysed trials of homoeopathy and conventional medicine...” Here it seems that the results of trials conducted by Homoeopathic institutions

were not measured or evaluated for what they were, but measured against statistical methods not endorsed, scrutinised or arbitrated by homoeopaths. Here’s the first bias.

        The report also says that” specific effects of homoeopathic remedies seem implausible” Too right it says “ seem” because seems means just that- an appearance of the truth This is precisely what science is supposed to be about: observation, hypothesis and experiment.

        He questions the researchers “So where are the scientists with the third part of the equation? The denigration of homoeopathy through statistical analysis will fail for all sorts of reason.

Dr.N.Subramanian

MADURAI.NOV.10: Homoeopathy is a more advanced system that helps to improve the immunity of patients to diseases and cures them naturally, said Dr. P. Subramanian, President, Tamil Nadu Homoeopathic Association, Madurai Chapter, here on Monday.

       Talking to the reporters, Subramanian said that Homoeopathy is gradually gaining popularity. Though Allopathy provides instantaneous relief to patients it has its own side effects. He said alternative systems of medicine are now sought after because the mainstream medical system has failed to meet the requirements of the suffering people. “Though allopathy is powerful it is a double-edged weapon,” the doctor said.

       Stating that allopathy was also a very costly system, the homoeopath said that not everyone could afford to follow allopathy. The greatest benefits of allopathy are neither for the patients, nor the physicians, but for pharmaceutical companies, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. N. Subramanian, Chairman, Board of Studies, MGR Medical University, said homoeopathy had gained so much of popularity that there were more than 168 homoeopathy medical colleges in the country.

       In Tamil Nadu alone there were 10 such medical colleges. Stating that Homoeopathy was cost effective, Dr. P. Subramanian said homoeopathy was best suited for treating chronic diseases.Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that homoeopathy is very effective and should be included as mainstream medicine.

       When asked whether homoeopathy was effective in curing dreaded diseases like cancer and AIDS, Dr N Subramanian said though cancer and AIDS could not be controlled by homoeopathic drugs it certainly helped in improving the quality of life of patients affected by these dreaded diseases.

         GUWAHATI, OCT.2005: Progressive Homoeopathic Doctor’s Association organised a two day work shop at Hotel Orchid with Dr. S.S. Vithal and Dr. S.Tanvir Hussain. The workshop was inaugurated by Director, Health services and director, Medical Education Govt. of Assam lighted the lamp.

         Dr.D.C Das, Govt Homoeopathic Medical college Guwahati and Dr.S.Tanvir also participated. A Souvenir “PRERNA” was released on the occasion. Dr. S.S.Vithal presented his video cases on “ Lymphatic Leukemia” and a case of Renal Calculus” Dr. Tanvir projected a case of “Neuroblastoma”. Dr.N.Kalita, Dr.Debashish Sarkar, Dr.Manas Das, Dr.Utpal Sharma and Dr.Deepak Kalita organized this workshop.