European Research Initiative on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine - EURICAM
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is being demanded
as well as being used increasingly by European citizens. Recent
studies have shown that patients, suffering from a wide range
of diseases, are seeking out alternative or complementary treatments
for use either in conjunction with or as an alternative to orthodox
and conventional treatments. The reasons for this development
are manifold. Many orthodox treatments have side effects which
patients find difficult to live with in the longer term. Some
patients find the treatments offered not effective enough and
so look for other options. The general tendency to a more ecological
and holistic view of health in many European countries has resulted
in patients seeking out treatments that are more compatible with
their world-view. The resultant shift in demand is, at present,
not being met with matching efforts to clarify the knowledge base
of these treatments. This creates an environment of hot debate
founded on little knowledge!
The European Research Initiative on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine - EURICAM has been formed to point out this deficit
to the public and encourage governments of countries within the
European Union to provide research funding to establish the evidence
base for CAM.
European researchers were among the first to undertake scientific
research into CAM, initially with little or no funding. Despite
this and thanks to support from small and mainly private initiatives
they have established themselves at the forefront of research
in this area. In the US, a national centre for complementary and
alternative medicine (NCCA) has been established as part of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), with an annual budget of
$115 million. No comparative initiative has been forthcoming in
any of the single European member states, let alone on a European
level. If Europe wishes to maintain its hard won reputation in
this area, then European researchers have an important role to
play in the worldwide effort to establish an evidence base for
CAM. The founders of EURICAM feel that efforts both of single
governments of the member states and of the European Union as
a whole should be focused on establishing CAM as a viable and
well-supported research area within the European Union. Hence
the slogan of EURICAM is “CAM into FP7”.
The initiative calls on the public to support EURICAM by approaching
their political representatives and organisations.
Europe needs to establish a programme of research support that
can compare with those initiated by Canada and the US, particularly
if it is to maintain and develop the research into CAM that has
already been undertaken. Governments and regulating bodies need
to have solid research data on which to inform decisions about
not only the effectiveness of CAM treatments but also their safety.
EURICAM’s aim, therefore, is to persuade the European administration
to make CAM one of the priority subjects for research in the upcoming
Framework 7 research programme as well as in future programs.
You can support this initiative in the following ways:
- Write a letter to your local representative in the European government
- Write a letter to your national research agency, ministry of
health, or European research coordinator.
- Write a letter to European Commission – Research Directorate
– General, Directorate B, B – 1049 Bruxelles, Belgium.
- Alert your public or regional press and media to this campaign.
News about EURICAM will be published regularly on the website
www.euricam.net.
Thank you for your support and commitment to this important initiative.
|
