Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Journal
Type:
Editorial
Chapter:
2019.04.01
Dear member of Qjure
In 2012 the NHMRC, the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, produced a report on homeopathy, but is was never published. A new research group was formed by the NHMRC and they produced a second report, which was published in 2015. The report concluded that there was no evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy, a conclusion widely promoted by the media.
There were serious doubts though, about the procedures and impartiality of the second research group. Many people requested the publication of the first report. For years the NHMRC refused to release the report, despite Freedom of Information requests and even requests by members of the Australian Senate. An overwhelming response to the Release The First Report campaign saw more than 75,000 people from around the world demand its publication. A few weeks ago the NHMRC finally released their first report on homeopathy. Prof Anne Kelso, CEO of the NHMRC, explained her decision to release the report by acknowledging the “considerable interest” in this hidden document. The release of the first report is a major win for the campaign and for transparency and public accountability in research, as the NHRMC fought for years to prevent the public seeing it.
As expected, the conclusions of NHMRC’s 2012 report are in stark contrast to the 2015 report, the first report concluding that there is “encouraging evidence for the effectiveness of homeopathy” in five medical conditions.
Also Prof Anne Kelso, CEO of the NHMRC, declared that the second report of 2015 “did not conclude that homeopathy was ineffective”, despite claims to that effect in media reports and by anti-homeopathy campaigners.
In this edition an article by Joanne Greenland is published. She describes the techniques of social marginalisation and how they are used against homeopathy.
We wish you much reading pleasure and inspiration.
Jan Scholten, 13-9-2019