The demand for alternative methods rises and German Health Insurances adjust to it
The demand for alternative healing methods rose among patients therefore the German Health Insurances adjusted as well. Currently, almost all statutory health insurance are covering the treatment cost of homeopathy if provided by physicians. Often other healing methods like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), anthroposophic medicine[i], phytotherapy and osteopathy are also covered if provided by physicians. Additional reasonable private health insurances, which cover the treatment costs of Heilpraktiker up to a certain limit, are also available.
In Germany there are currently 15 hospitals or clinics offering Homoeopathy incl. geriatric department, internal medicine, psychiatry, 2 university hospitals, day clinics for psychiatric cases, children’s hospital and a cancer Clinic (Switzerland) and 18 naturopathic clinics with 9 Anthroposophical clinics including hospitals, internal medicine and psychosomatic departments.
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[i] Anthroposophical medicine is a form of alternative medicine that in part complements and in part replaces mainstream medicine. Founded in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) in conjunction with Ita Wegmann (1876–1943), anthroposophical medicine draws on Steiner's spiritual philosophy, which he called anthroposophy. Anthroposophical practitioners employ a variety of treatment techniques including massage, exercise, counselling and the use of anthroposophical medicine. The latter is also applied in their agricultural practice.