All in all in India: It takes a minimum of 9 years to be a postgraduate Homeopath.

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A ‘Homeopath’ is one who is a qualified medical practitioner who has been trained in homeopathy through a full time, full-length course; and is legally and technically certified to practice homeopathic medicine, as per the local governing body.

Unfortunately, not many countries offer a full-length course, which should be practically identical to the mainstream medical course of M.B.,B.S and M.D. It is important that the qualified homeopath should have studied in detail the following subjects in full length.

  1. Anatomy (for 18 months)
  2. Physiology (for 18 months)
  3. Pathology (for 12 months)
  4. Internal medicine (Minimum 12 months)
  5. Surgery (Minimum 12 months) includes ENT, Ophthalmology, General Surgery
  6. Gynecology and Obstetrics (Minimum 12 months)
  7. Preventive and Social Medicine (Minimum 12 months)
  8. Medico-Legal Medicine (Minimum 12 months)
  9. Pediatrics, Psychiatry, ENT, Dermatology, etc. (as a part of the course)
  10. Homeopathic Philosophy (Minimum 3 years)
  11. Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (Materia Medica) (Minimum 3 years)
  12. Homeopathic Pharmacy (Minimum 12 months)
  13. Clinical Medicine ((Minimum 2 years)
  14. Hospital training (Minimum 3 years) In all different fields of medicine, surgery, Gynecology, ENT, Skin, Psychiatry, etc.)
  15. Internship ((Minimum 1 year)

After which one chooses specialisation in Medicine, Paediatrics, Material Medica, Organon, Repertory, Pharmacy, etc.

Through full-time study for at least five and half years including practical training in the hospitals is required for any homeopath to have granted doctorate degree. Such an intense training is available only in some countries like India.

It is very important the homeopath is able to understand the medical language, able to read and evaluate all kinds of investigations modalities (such as blood work, ECG, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, Electromyelogram, EEG, etc.) and apply in practice, to determine and decide the treatment protocol.

In many European countries including the UK as well as the US, there are courses for lay people which may legally permit them to practice homeopathy. However, such courses are not adequate in the medical training and it is highly debatable if such practitioners could be called ‘homeopaths’. The problem with such homeopaths is that they fail to understand the diseases in medical perspective.

A homeopath should have either a post-graduation or at least a graduation qualification in medicine. Medical qualification for homeopaths varies from country to country. However, it is important that every ‘homeopath’ has adequate training in all medical subjects as above. Most countries have courses in homeopathy minimum after 12 years with science subjects. Homeopathy course has to be a ‘graduation’ course after science subjects. It cannot be a short-term course with the background in commerce or arts subjects. In some countries, there are ‘medical homeopaths’ while in some countries there are also ‘lay-homeopaths’.

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HOMEOPATHY USE AROUND THE WORLD

WORLDWIDE

  • Worldwide, over 200 million people use homeopathy on a regular basis.1, 2
  • Homeopathy is included in the national health systems of a number of countries e.g. Brazil, Chile, India, Mexico, Pakistan, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

INDIA

  • India leads in terms of number of people using homeopathy, with 100 million people depending solely on homeopathy for their medical care.1
  • There are over 200,000 registered homeopathic doctors currently, with approximately 12,000 more being added every year.3

EUROPE

  • 100 million EU citizens, some 29% of the EU’s population, use homeopathic medicines in their day-to-day healthcare.2
  • Homeopathy is practised in 40 out of 42 European countries.

FRANCE

  • Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic medicine for ‘flu, is one of the best selling over-the-counter medicines in France.5

UK

  • 10% of people in the UK use homeopathy – an estimated 6 million people.
  • In Britain, the market for homeopathy is growing at around 20% per year.  In 2007, it was estimated to be worth £38m, and is projected to reach £46m in 2012.
  • In the NHS approx. 40,000 homeopathic prescriptions are provided to patients per year by doctors working within the homeopathic service. There were originally 5 homeopathic hospitals (Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Bristol and Tunbridge Wells). Tunbridge Wells closed in 2007 and earlier this year the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital changed its name to the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine.
  • There are ~ 400 doctors in the UK that use homeopathy, regulated by the Faculty of Homeopathy and promoted by the British Homeopathic Association.
  • There and ~1,500 professional homeopaths (non-medically qualified homeopaths) in the UK, regulated by the Society of Homeopaths (65%), Alliance of Registered Homeopaths and Homeopathic Medical Association. They largely operate in private practice outside the NHS.
  • See NHS spending on homeopathy

US

  • According to the National Institutes of Health, over 6 million people in the United States use homeopathy, mainly for self-care of specific health conditions.

WHAT HOMEOPATHY COSTS?

Your first consultation with a private homeopath will usually cost between INR 500 to INR 10,000. Further appointments usually cost less – about INR 500 to INR 5000 depending on the location of the place and experience of homeopath. It will also depend on the skill level of his staff or assistants who usually take the first case and prepare it for the main consultant.

Your remedy will usually be included in the consultation price, but do check this first. Homeopathic tablets or other products usually cost around INR 100 to INR500 if you need to buy them separately in India.

DR.-KHEDEKAR.-KHEDEKAR

Imperial clinics Mumbai

Dr. Shreepad A. Khedekar, BHMS, MD (homeopathy), a specialist for over 17 years, he has used homeopathy in his Switzerland, Belgrade and Mumbai practice for the last 17 years. He lectures in homeopathy at Switzerland, Croatia and at the Serbian Doctors Association (SLD) Teaching Centre in Belgrade and has a busy private practice in Dadar, Mumbai and at Shushrusha Citizens co-operative hospital, Mumbai and is the only Homeopath in their 60 year history.

Dr. Shreepad Khedekar  is the Clinical Director, Imperial clinics Mumbai and Imperial clinics Belgrade, Consultant at Shushrusha Citizens Co-op Hospital Mumbai and Physician to several international stars and celebrities.

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