Stephen's views on homeopathy
The Liberal Democrats believe that, as a basic principle, individuals should have maximum freedom about how they choose to get treated, so long as the therapy is safe. We are in favour of providing choice for patients and are determined that this concept of choice should be upheld when a doctor recommends the course of treatment in question. Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMs) are often recommended where conventional medical treatments have failed, and I recognise that homeopathy brings benefits to some patients.
When it comes to NHS provision, I support a review by NICE into the cost effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative (CAMs) therapies, including homeopathy; as well as expanding the work of NICE to look at the cost-effectiveness of existing conventional treatments. I know that many complementary therapies are popular with the public, however the NHS budget is limited and so the Liberal Democrats want to make sure that NHS funding is focused on treatments which are efficacious and cost-effective
I believe that, as far as NHS treatment is concerned, public money should only be used to fund medicines and treatments that have conclusive scientific backing. Of course, I believe that people should still be free to pursue homeopathic treatment if they so wish, but not on the NHS; taxpayers money should only be used to fund reliable evidence-based medical practices.
I understand that this position will not be favoured by everyone, yet I believe that this is the right decision. During these economically difficult times in particular, the taxpayer has a right to know that their money is being used to fund only those procedures that have been medically proven to have a significant propensity for success. This is yet to be demonstrated for homeopathic medicine.
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