Homeopathy and complementary medicine in Tuscany, Italy: integration in the public health system

The healthcare programmes of the Region of Tuscany, Italy have contained references to various types of non-conventional medicine since 1996, and the last three Regional Health Plans have includes a chapter on non-conventional medicine that arguably represent the greatest degree of integration of such therapies in the public health care system achieved thus far in Italy. The Plan aims to guarantee definitive integration in the Regional Health Service of types of non-conventional medicine which are supported by a sufficient level of scientific evidence to allow them to be defined as forms of complementary medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and manual medicine). Moreover, in 2007 the Regional council of Tuscany, for the first time in Italy, approved a regional law disciplining the pratice of complementary medicines on the part of doctors, dentists, Veterinarians and pharmacists.

Keywords

Homeopathy - Complementary medicine - Integration - Public health care

• References

• 1 Tuscan Regional Executive Resolution no. 527, 21/12/95, Regional Health Plan 1996–1998 (Para.5, Part III).
• 2 Tuscan Regional Committee Resolution no. 191, 03/06/97, Directives for the organisation of activities for health education for the period of 1997/1998.
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• 19 MNC Toscana – Regional Newsletter for Complementary and Non-Conventional Medicine, Year III, no. 5, p14. <http://www.salute.toscana.it/parliamodi/med-non-convenzionali/notiziari/mnc_a2n5_pg14.pdf>.