PROSPECTS,AND

LIMITATION OF
HOMOEOPATHY AS A
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

PRESENTED BY – DR.BHAGYAVANTI
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF- DR.MEENA DESHPANDE.
MD(HOM)
0BJECTIVES

 Explain Dake’s propositions or Dake’s postulates

 Describe health care system
 Discuss present status of homoeopathy In the world
 Discuss status of homoeopathy in India
 Explain the prospects of homoeopathy in health care
system
 List limitations of homoeopathy in health care system
Introduction to homoeopathy
 It is a therapeutic system of medicine premised on
the principle, “Similia Similibus Curentur” or ‘let
likes be treated by likes'. It is a method of treatment
for curing the patient by medicines that possess the
power of producing similar symptoms in a healthy
human being simulating the natural disease, which
it can cure in the diseased person.
 The year of birth of homoeopathy is 1790 in
Germany.
 This concept of ‘law of similaris' was also
enunciated by Hippocrates and Paracelsus, but Dr.
Hahnemann established it on a scientific footing
despite the fact that he lived in an age when
modern laboratory methods were almost unknown
 As stuart close explained in the genius of
homoeopathy -In defining the scope of homœopathy it
is necessary first to discriminate between disease per
se, as a morbid vital process and the material results or
products in which the morbid process ultimates. With
the latter, homœopathy primarily has nothing to do. It
is concerned only with disease per se, in its primary,
functional or dynamical aspect.
 Hahnemann explained about how cure should be in
§2
“The highest ideal of cure is rapid, gentle and
permanent restoration of the health, or removal and
annihilation of the disease in its whole extent, in
the shortest, most reliable, and most harmless way,
on easily comprehensible principles.”
 he explained holistic approach In §16 & §17
 Holistic art of healing.
Hahnemann even
explaines his views
regarding the holistic
conception of disease in
the § 6
 HOMOEOPATHY is a science of vital dynamics
-Homoeopathy as a therapeutic method is
concerned primarily only with the morbid vital
processes in living organism, which are perceptibly
represented by the symptoms, irrespective of what
caused them.
 In §9 & §10 – Hahnemann explained about “vital
force”
Dake’s propositions or Dake’s postulates

The exclusion method followed by Dake, in his

“Therapeutic methods”, known as Dake’s
propositions or Dake’s postulates states that:

 Homoeopathy relates primarily to no affections of

health where the existing causes of diseases is
constantly present and operative. This means to say
that in those cases where the exciting causes of the
diseases are constantly present, homoeopathy fails to
act, to cure such cases
 It primarily relates to no affections of health which
will, of themselves, cease after the removal of the
exciting cause by physical, chemical, or hygienic
measures. This means to say that as long as there are
indispositions to the case cure will not be achieved.
 It relates primarily to no affections of health where
the vital reactive power of the organisms to
medicines is exhausted, obstructed or prevented. This
is in relation to the first observation of Kent where
there is a deep seated pathology which does not
resulting cure of the patient
 It relates primarily to no affections of health
occasioned by the injury or destructions of tissues
which are incapable of restoration.
 It relates to no affections of health, the symptomatic
likeness of which may not be perceptibly produced in
the healthy organism by medical means, nor to
affections in which such symptoms are not
perceptible. This relates to one sided diseases where
there is a paucity of symptoms.
Health care system
It is the organization of people, institutions, and
resources that deliver HEALTH CARE SERVICES to
meet the health needs of target populations.
Health care providers are institutions or individuals
providing health care services and include Doctors,
nurses, midwives, dieticians, paramedics, dentists,
medical laboratory technologists, psychologists,
pharmacists, community health workers.
 LEVELS OF HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM

 PRIMARY HEALTH CARE:

It denotes the first level of contact between individuals
& families with the health system. Primary health care is
provided through a network of Sub centres and Primary
Health Centres in rural areas and through Health posts ,
Family Welfare Centres in urban areas. The Sub centre
consists of one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife(ANM) and
Multipurpose Social Worker(MSW) , serves a population
of 5000.The Primary Health Centre(PHC) staffed by
Medical officer and paramedical staff serves every 30,000
population. Each PHC is to supervise 6 Sub centres.
 SECONDARY HEALTH CARE:
Secondary Health Care refers to a second tier of health
system, in which patients from primary health care are
referred to specialists in higher hospitals for treatment. In
India , the health centres for secondary health care include
District Hospitals and Community Health Centre.
 TERTIARY HEALTH CARE:
Tertiary Health Care refers to third level of system, in
which specialized consultative care is provided usually on
referral from primary and secondary medical care.
Specialised Intensive care units , advanced diagnostic
support services and specialized medical personnel forms
the members. In India tertiary care service is provided by
medical colleges and advanced medical research institutes.
 Health care systems in India - INDIAN SYSTEMS
OF MEDICINE AND HOMOEOPATHY (ISM&H),
includes Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy,
Yoga. A major strength of ISM&H system is that it is
accessible , acceptable and affordable. A separate
department for ISH&M was set up to ensure that they
provide a complementary system of care along with
practitioners of modern system of medicine.
 ISM&H was created in the year 1995 and renamed as
AYUSH in the year 2003. Its aim was to give greater
attention to the development of these systems of
medicine. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) also
renamed as National Health Mission(NHM) and AYUSH
systems were brought into the mainstream of Health
care, revitalisation of local health traditions to strengthen
public health services. This helped in the utilisation of
AYUSH and its therapeutics , as well as the adoption of
its principles, for the management of community health
problems at different levels of the health system.
ROLE OF HOMOEOPATHY AS A HEALTH CARE
SYSTEMS

The aim is to improve the quality of primary, secondary

and tertiary care. The states taking up several
initiatives to improve the quality and coverage of
these services at each level.
 Improving the quality of primary, secondary and

tertiary care.
 Main streaming the AYUSH institutions and

practitioners with modern systems of medicine so that

people have access to complementary systems of care.
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE :
The practitioners at primary health care should provide
healthcare to vulnerable sections of the population
especially those living in urban slums and remote areas.
In some states like West bengal and Gujarat , AYUSH
practitioners alone are posted in primary health centres
in some remote rural and urban areas. In Kerala,
AYUSH practitioners provide a complementary system
of care in the PHCs.
SECONDARY HEALTH CARE :
A majority of AYUSH secondary hospitals function as
separate institutions and do not have linkages with
either primary health care institutions or with secondary
health care systems. Very often these institutions lack
adequate diagnostic facilities and man power. Some
states did attempt to provide AYUSH clinics in district
hospitals but the experience in these area has been
limited.
TERTIARY HEALTH CARE:
All AYUSH colleges , private as well as government have
attached tertiary care hospitals. In addition there are
tertiary care or speciality centres attached to national
institutes. Private/ voluntary sector institutions also
provide tertiary care. The department has also provided
funds for establishing speciality clinics in the National
Institute of Mental health and Allied
sciences(NIMHANS). These clinics are reported to have
very good attendance
 NATIONAL INSTITUTES FUNDED BY THE
GOVERNMENT:
 National Institute of AYURVEDA, JAIPUR.

 National Institute of UNANI, BANGALORE.

 National Institute of HOMOEOPATHY, KOLKATTA.

 National Institute of NATUROPATHY, PUNE.

 National Institute of SIDDHA, CHENNAI.

 Morarji Desai Institute of YOGA, NEW DELHI

Present status of homoeopathy In the world

 Currently, homoeopathy is recognised by the

government of the following countries either as a
system of medicine or as a medical speciality.
 Central and South American countries like

Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba,

Ecuador and Mexico.
 Asia countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,

Sri lanka.
European countries like Belgium, Bulgaria,
Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania,
Russia, United Kingdom.
 Homoeopathy is integrated into the national

health care system in Brazil, India, Mexico,

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom.
 Homoeopathy has a legal standing in India,

Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

 The global profile for traditional,
complementary, alternative medicine(TCAM)
reflects homoeopathy as the most popular
system in high income countries and second
most popular in low income countries
Status of homoeopathy in india

 It is a recognized medical system in India through the

Homoeopathy central council act 1973,In 1978 a central
council for research in Homoeopathy was established.
 In India, Homoeopathy is the third most popular method of

treatment after Allopathy and Ayurveda.

 It is estimated that there are about a quarter million

homoeopaths in India. Nearly 10000 new ones add to this

number every year.
 Around 186 Homoeopathic medical colleges are there in

India,out of which 35 colleges belongs to the government

while the rest are privately owned
 Homoepathic drug industry also growing at a rapid
rate in India.
 India is currently undergoing demographic and
lifestyle transition which will result in increasing
prevalence of non-communicable diseases and lifestyle
related disorders.
 Another survey noted that homoeopathic studies

“suggest potential public health benefits such as

reductions in unnecessary antibiotic usage, reduction in
costs to treat certain respiratory diseases, improvement
in premenopausal depression and improved health
outcomes in chronically ill individuals.
 India has a vast network of governmental AYUSH
healthcare institutions. There are 3,000 hospitals
with over 60 beds and over 23,000 dispensaries
providing health care. Currently , there are over
6,80,000 registered AYUSH practitioners in country
and most of them work in the private sector.
PROSPECTS OF HOMOEOPATHY IN HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM …
 Ensuring that AYUSH clinics are located in the
Primary , Secondary , Tertiary care institutions. And
financing through funds provided for these
institutions.
 Focusing on the use of AYUSH therapeutic
modalities for diseases for which the modern
medicine doesn’t have effective drugs free of serious
side effects.
 Prevention and management of life-style related
chronic diseases.
 To improve utilisation of services under national
disease control and family welfare programmes.
 Establishing effective referral linkage between
Primary , Secondary and Tertiary care institutions.
 Strengthening tertiary care institutions, especially those
attached to AYUSH Colleges and national institutions,
in order to improve patient care , teaching and training.
 Assessing the pros and cons of providing
complementary system of health care
 A study was carried out recently among 1352
patients in west bengal with the aim of learning
whether patients would like Homoeopathy to be
integrated with the standard therapy 68.2 % used
Homoeopathic medicine and 76.6% used to treat
their children’s ailments. According to reports of
National Health System Resource Centre, most
states have been promoting AYUSH facilities along
side allopathic facilities in the same premises.
 Homoeopathic medicines are extremely affordable,
over 6000 homoeopathic medicines exist.
Homoeopathy even has potential to provide treatment
for cancer thats why homoeopathy is considered
‘medicine of future’.
 In allergic conditions, the results of several studies
indicated that patients before seeking homoeopathic
care for their allergic symptoms were dissatisfied
within the conventional health care system,
 Approximately 50% of asthma patients in the U.K.
have used some form of complementary therapy for
their asthma at some stage, and most of these patients
have indicated that they derived at least some benefit.
 A retrospective study reported at homoeopathic

conference which includes children treated with

individualized homoeopathy, showed some
encouraging results.Around 44.2% of patients had a
satisfactory reaction,36.7% manifested improvement ,
0.8% showed no reaction.
In footnote to §33
In the year 1801 , when scarlatina prevailed
epidemically among children, it attacked
without any exception all the children. In the
same year in Konigslutter Dr. Hahnemann
witnessed similar epidemic and all the children
who was given Belladonna remained
unaffected by this highly infectious infantile
disease.
 In § 100 -102 – Dr. Hahnemann has given
directions on the evaluation of group simillimum
of a specific epidemic to select the “GENUS
EPIDEMICUS”.
Prevention by specific medicines

 Small pox – variolinum, thuja, malandrium.

 Cholera – camphor
 Anthrax – anthraxinum.
 Diphtheria – diphtherinum.
 Measles – pulsatilla, aconite.
 Chicken pox – variolinum, rhus tox.
 Tetanus – ledum, hypericum.
LIMITATIONS OF HOMOEOPATHY IN
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

 Existing AYUSH primary , secondary and

tertiary healthcare institutions lack essential staff,
infrastructure, diagnostic facilities and medicines.
 Lack of quality control and good manufacturing
practices have resulted in the use of spurious and
substandard drugs.
 The quality of training of Anganwadi workers,
MSW, ANM workers has been below standards ,
lack essential practical training.
 The AYUSH practitioners are not involved in the
national disease control programmes or family
welfare programme.
 No proper awareness regarding the AYUSH system
among the public, so no proper utilisation of the
available services provided by the government.
 There are no standard treatment guidelines followed.
 Even though AYUSH system has solutions for most
health problems, it is not equipped to handle cases of
ACUTE MEDICAL and SURGICAL
EMERGENCY.
 CONCLUSION

 ISM&H was created in the year 1995 and renamed as AYUSH

in the year 2003.
 Homoeopathy is system of medicine premised on the
principle “Similia Similibus Curentur” means ‘let likes be
treated by likes'.
 Currently, homoeopathy is recognised by the government of
many countries either as a system of medicine or as a medical
speciality.
 Homoeopathy is integrated into the national health care
system in Brazil, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
United Kingdom
 CONCLUSION
It is a recognized medical system in India through the Homoeopathy


central council act 1973,In 1978 a central council for research in

Homoeopathy was established.
Around 186 Homoeopathic medical colleges are there in India, out of


which 35 colleges belongs to the government while the rest are

privately owned.
India has a vast network of governmental AYUSH healthcare


institutions. There are 3,000 hospitals with over 60 beds and over
23,000 dispensaries providing health care. Currently , there are over
6,80,000 registered AYUSH practitioners in country and most of them
work in the private sector.
Homoeopathic drug industry also growing at a rapid rate in India.

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