Why alternative therapies are covered by health insurance

Switzerland is swimming against the tide with its decision to grant complementary therapies the same status as conventional medicine. Is it a case of the people’s will winning over science? ‘Absurd.’ ‘Unacceptable.’ ‘Startling.’ ‘Squandering taxpayers’ money…’ These were some of the comments on Facebook when swissinfo.ch published the news at the end of March that the government would recognise alternative treatments. But authoritative Swiss medical organisations don’t agree. At the end of a consultation process involving political parties and experts, the Swiss Society of General Internal Medicine (SGAIM) and the Swiss Medical Association (FMH), along with the major parties, backed the interior ministry’s decision. Homeopathy in Switzerland In 1999, the interior ministry announced that the cost of several alternative clinical treatment methods (including TCM and homeopathy) would be included in basic health insurance for a six-year trial period. In 2005, ...