ANTHROPOSOPHIC MEDICINE

Health policy perspectives in Anthroposophic Medicine
 
The anthroposophic medical associations in each country are affiliated in the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations (IVAA).

The health policy perspectives of anthroposophic medicine relate to the work areas:

Promotion of primary prevention through support of age-appropriate education programmes and development-oriented facilities for all ages.
IASWCE, Alliance for Childhood, ECCE, Bund der Waldorfschulen, IPSUM, Erziehungskunst.

Action for appropriate out-patient and clinical care which includes the methods of anthroposophic and complementary medicine and realises the patient’s right to therapeutic freedom. Active collaboration with representatives from the public health service. Kommission C, Dialogforum Pluralismus in der Medizin, Hufelandgesellschaft, EFNMU and more.
International involvement in Brussels and worldwide, particularly through the IVAA and its cooperation partners, such as ECHAMP, EFPAM, CAMDOC Alliance, ELIANT.

The objectives are: pluralism of methods, therapeutic freedom, patient competence  and a salutogenesis-oriented public health system. In particular, it must be assured that evaluation methods regarding the harmlessness, safety and efficacy of anthroposophic medicines and therapies are deemed to be valid based on criteria inherent in the methodology. Currently complementary medical procedures are evaluated using the model of conventional medicine which is neither methodologically nor financially appropriate. Hence the IVAA is active in the context of the EU framework programmes for research in complementary medicine.

The legal basis of anthroposophic medicine in the national health systems varies from country to country. In Switzerland, anthroposophic medicines are listed on a list of specialities. In Germany, anthroposophic medicine is recognised in the medicines act (AMG) as one of three special therapeutic approaches – alongside homoeopathy and phytotherapy. In Austria, the Austrian Medical Association in November 2000 granted anthroposophic medicine recognition as a method of complementary medicine (following numerous interventions by the Working Group of Anthroposophic Physicians in Austria) with the diploma of the Austrian Medical Association for complementary medicine.


Further information is available at the (English-language) homepage of the International Federation of Anthroposophic Medical Associations/ IVAA