Very low cost access to homeopathy (April Fools)

The Ministry of Health is investigating a new funding stream for practices wanting to offer their patients homeopathy treatment. Under the new scheme, GPs would be able to gain CME points for completing a Government-subsidised, online, Principles of Homeopathy course offered by the Royal New Zealand College of Registered Homeopaths. Very Low Cost Access practices who sign up for the course will receive a 'homeoscription pad' for prescribing homeopathic medicines.

Patients presenting the homeoscripts at pharmacies are only required to make a $5 copayment for the special crystal needed to decipher the script, with the Government picking up the remainder of the tab. According to a ministry insider there are no plans to extend the homeoscription scheme to non-VLCA practices as wealthier patients have been using and paying for homeopathy for years. It's simply about creating equality of access to treatment options, regardless of socio-economic status, he says. Registrations for the funding stream open on 1 April.