National Vice President of Austria

Institutional members:
ÖGHM (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Homöopathische Medizin)
A-1190 Wien, Billrothstraße 2/8. Stock
Tel: +43/1/5267575
Fax: +43/1/52675754
E-Mail: sekretariat@homoeopathie.at
http://www.homoeopathie.at

ÄKH (Ärztegesellschaft für Klassische Homöopathie)
A-4020 Linz, Südtiroler Straße 16
Tel: +43/699/17655588
Fax: +43/7242/909254
E-Mail: office@aekh.at
http://www.aekh.at

Austria has been closely associated with homeopathy from its inception, as Samuel Hahnemann studied in Vienna in 1777 and was significanty influenced by the first modern medical school of Vienna, which primarilly allowed physicians to treat patients at their bedside. Since then the tradition of homeopathy has been upheld in our country to the present day.

The first Austrian Homeopathic Society, ÖGHM was founded in 1953. Dr. Mathias Dorcsi was the first, who invented advanced training courses for medical doctors and founded the so called Viennese school of homeopathy in 1975. Further he was awarded with an official homeopathic research assignement at Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute, appointed by the Ministry of Health. Since that time thousends of Austrian physicians have been educated in Homeopathy and over the years training has been extended to teach phamacologists and midwifes.

In 1991 a second Society of Austrian physicians called ÄKH was founded, emerging in accordance with the Student Initiative Society SIH. The ÄKH also offers advanced training courses.

In 1994 homeopathy was recognised and awarded by the Austrian Medical Chamber with the ÖÄK diploma. The practice of homeopathy is permitted exclusively for medical doctors.

The Society of Veterinary Homeopaths ÖGVH was established in 1995, providing continuing education programs. The Veterinarian Chamber awards graduates the title „Veterinary Specialist in homeopathy“, which is akin to a diploma.

Currently approximately 500 Austrian physicians apply homeopathy in their medical practices, which corresponds to about 3% of all Austrian doctors. Efforts and discussions are ongoing with representatives of Austrian health policy aimed at integrating homeopathy into the Austrian healthcare system. However official scientific approval is still pending.

Continuous efforts in research, publications and public relations promote the dissemination and establishment of homeopathy in Austria. Although around 70% of patients choose homeopathy as their preferred method of complementary medicine, national health insurance funds do not reimburse the costs for homeopathic treatments, although some private insurance companies do.

Compared to the situation in other European countries, homeopathy in Austria faces criticism and ongoing attacks regarding credibility of the method from so- calles „sceptics“. To advocate for our interests, homeopathic societies in Austria have joined forces and initiated a reorganisation of their public relations efforts utilizing the expertize of professional public relations and marketing specialists. Patients associations, which have a strong membership base, support a positive public perception, which is of great importance. Due to that contentiousness, Austrian physicians strive for a better integration of homeopathy into healthcare and insurance systems to enhance the recognition of the method sustainability.