Homeopaths want research centre for HINI

With a second wave of H1N1 attack anticipated by experts in November, the underlying demand among people to have homeopathic centres has gained momentum again. A group of experts had sent recommendations to the central government asking for permission to start formal centres in and around the city.

Earlier, about two months back, a committee comprising of five members including principals of homeopathic colleges and Central Council for Research in Homeopathy, had sent recommendations about the treatment module, etc. to be followed by doctors across the state. While the recommendations were approved by the central government within 10 days, it kept mum on whether to allow homeopathic doctors to start formal centres to treat cases of swine flu.

“When swine flu was at its peak, we had many people coming to us for treatment but we had clear guidelines that we can provide only curative and not preventive care,” said one of the members of the committee who had sent the recommendations to New Delhi. “We are willing to do more research on H1N1 virus but we did not have adequate access to patients as they were under the care of the pubic health department,” the member added.

Additional chief secretary (health) of Maharashtra Sharvaree Gokhale states that at this stage the focus is to curb the spread of the virus with the best available resource. “Homeopathy can be used only as a preventive medicine to boost immunity,” she said. “For curative, Tamiflu is the only answer.”