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Alternative Medicine in Portugal needs your help!!

 

Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Osteopathy, Fitotherapy and Chiropractics risk extermination!

During the month of June the Portuguese Parliament (Assembleia da Republica - A.R.) is preparing the discussion and regulamentation of Alternative Medicine’s practice; Acupuncture, Homeopathic, Fitotherapy, Osteopathics and Chiropractics are the main issues. Two proposals run in our favour. One presented by the Government’s party and a second, more bold intention, put forth by a small opposition party. However, these non-conventional medicine disciplines risk being definitively outcast due to the overwhelming forces of money and ignorance.

 

Portugal’s health system represents its most degraded social-political reality. Outdated and dictatorial it determines the fate of the Portuguese people. Some of the health laws date from 1942 (In the Forties Portugal was under the rule of a rigid dictatorship!) and serve the interests of powerful lobbies. With this health system Portuguese citizens are seriously doomed. The situation may be described in the following lines:

 

1. Contradicting other countries reality, the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos) is a raging enemy of non-conventional medicine. Acupuncture is only tolerated to treat pain, and Osteopathy accepted for minor problems like certain lumbar problems. According to the Medical Association the practice of alternative medicine disciplines equates to witchcraft. The Medical Association expressed this view in a document presented to the Portuguese Parliament strongly contesting the regulation of Alternative Medicine disciplines; the document that is in our hands produces an even more serious statement, by accusing the European Parliament member Paul Lannoye of defending the non-conventional medicines interests due to connections and economic ties to the Boiron Laboratory and states that the scientific journal “ The Lancet” has published articles in favour of Homeopathy only because Prince Charles of Britain has paid a fee for that effect.

2. Portugal has a great lack of medical doctors and this tendency will accelerate. Thanks to the Medical Association, in the past 20 years the rate of fresh medical school students has decreased 70%. The majority of Portuguese doctors are close to retirement and no substitutes have been found;

3. People ready for immediate surgery are placed on a waiting list; when the moment has come for surgery the patient is already deceased!!

4. Medical wrongdoings are headlines of the daily news services and the ones held responsible never are punished;

5. The emergency services at hospitals are chaotic; patients line up in corridors waiting many hours for assistance enduring severe pain and many times facing death;

6. Situations of corruption involving medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies are denounced but nobody is convicted as money is passed under the table;

7. The State owes millions to the pharmaceutical sector (hospitals and social security) and is way overdue in paying its debts;

8. As the national health service is faulty, wealthy citizens request the services provided by private entities and pay a high price. This fact explains the Medical Association´s interest in degrading the national health system as business in the private realm is booming and profitable. In the end, the population is exploited.

The political class has seeked to regulate Alternative Medicine disciplines, however, strong pressure has been exercised by three powerful lobbies more interested in their own privileges and profits at the expense of a deficient national health system. The three lobbies are, The Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos – O.M.), The Pharmaceutical Association (O.F.) and The National Pharmacies Association (ANF). They have pressured the government and political parties with parliamentary seats, to not produce legislation concerning Alternative Medicine, and/or to produce a prohibiting set of rules that would ultimately kill Alternative Medicine. These lobbies are backed by the powerful pharmaceutical industry that is trying to cut a deal with the Government exchanging debt payment concessions for the extermination of Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Fitotherapy, Osteopathy and Chiropractics.

 

In Portugal, Alternative Medicine is exclusively supported by Public Opinion. It is to our knowledge that many individual politicians and the Government’s party would like to legislate in our favour. We are also aware after having met with all political parties holding seats in Parliament, that the pharmaceutical lobby is very powerful and financially influential which could ultimately determine our defeat and render us illegal.

 

This is why we need your help!!!

 

Please help us convince all decision-makers about the importance of our struggle.

Direct your letters, faxes or e-mails to the addresses listed below.

 

Send your appeals to the Members of Parliament that are in charge of The Health Committee; all Members of Parliament belonging to all Political Parties or Groupings; to all political party leaders or presidents that hold seats in Parliament and to the Consumers´Institute.

 

Please express your personal or institutional views explaining the importance of Alternative Medicine:

1. In Health Promotion, prevention and treatment of diseases with its large range of applications Not only for back pain or pain.

2. Explain how your country accepts the validity of the methods

3. If you happen to be a European Union citizen and a alternative medicine professional demand from the portuguese politicians that your right to work in Portugal, if and when you wish, be safekept and protected. This right is established by the European Union Treaties and is materialised in the legal pillar of free circulation of goods, people and workers. As a citizen and patient demand the right to be treated by means of Alternative medicine if and when you visit Portugal.

 

We know how much Portuguese Politicians consider and respect citizens opinions and appreciate reports presented by foreign bodies and institutions. We are counting on you!!

 

P.S: If you receive this message more than once, please accept our appologies. A large team is fighting for the same cause and it is very likely that some addresses coincide. We hope you understand and we are deeply grateful for your help. Thank you!

 

A.P.A. – D.A.

(Associação Portuguesa de Acupunctura e Disciplinas Associadas)

 

 

Doctor Pedro Choy

President

 

If possible, please send us a copy of your appeal:

Fax: + 351 21 3152269 Email: apa-da

Tel: + 351 21 3590474 / 75 Email: homuncai

Adress: Rua Viriato, Nº 27 – 3ºA, 1050-234 LISBOA - PORTUGAL

 

 

Decision Makers Addresses :

 

 

· INSTITUTO DO CONSUMIDOR

Presidente: Dr. António Carrapiço

E-Mail: ic

Fax: + 351 21 3564719

· ASSEMBLEIA DA REPÚBLICA

Morada: Palácio de S. Bento, 1249-068 Lisboa Portugal - Fax:+351213917435 (Comissão da Saúde)

Tel: + 351 21 3919000

 

 

Presidente da Assembleia da República

Dr. Almeida Santos Fax: + 351 21 3917426

E-Mail: a.almeidasantos

 

Vice-presidente

Dr. Manuel Alegre Fax: + 351 21 3917422

E-Mail: alegre

DEPUTADOS DA COMISSÃO DA SAÚDE:

 

Presidente da Comissão da Saúde (PSD)

Dr. José Luis Vieira de Castro Fax:+ 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: vcastro

 

Vice-Presidente (PS)

Dr. João Sobral

E-Mail: gp_ps

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

Enfª Natália Filipe(PCP) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_pcp

 

Dr. Luis Nobre Guedes (PP) Fax:+ 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_pp

 

Dr. João Pedro Correia(PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: jcorreia

 

Dr. Aires de Carvalho (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: airesc

 

Dr.Fernando Jesus (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: mjesus

 

Dr.Filipe Vital (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dr. Gil França (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dr. José Saraiva (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: jsaraiva

 

Dra Luísa Portugal (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dra Fernanda Costa (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: mfcosta

Dr. Nuno Ferreira Silva (PS) Fax:+ 351 213917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dr. Paulo Pisco (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-mail: gp_ps

 

Dr. Victor Moura (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dr. Victor Baptista (PS) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: gp_ps

 

Dra Ana Maria Manso (PSD) Fax:+351 213917435

E-Mail: amanso

 

Dr. Carlos Martins (PSD) Fax: + 351 21 3917435

E-Mail: carlosm

 

Dr. Duarte Lima (PSD)

E-Mail: dlima

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dr. Joaquim da Ponte (PSD) Fax: + 351 213917435

E-Mail: jponte

 

 

Dr. José António Silva (PSD)

E-Mail: jsilva

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dr. Mário Patinha Antão (PSD)

E-Mail: mpantao

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dr. Nuno Freitas (PSD)

E-Mail: nfreitas

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dra Luísa Mesquita (PCP)

E-Mail: gp_pcp

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dr. Basílio Horta (PP)

E-Mail: gp_pp

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

Dr. Luis Ferreira (PEV)

E-Mail: gp_pev

Fax: + 351 21 3917435

 

PRESIDENTES DOS PARTIDOS POLÍTICOS

 

Partido Socialista (PS)

Presidente: Engº António Guterres

E-Mail: gp_ps

Fax: + 351 21 3917444

 

Partido Social Democrata (PSD)

Presidente: Dr. Durão Barroso

E-Mail: dbarroso

Fax: + 351 21 3953740

 

Partido Popular (PP)

Presidente: Dr. Paulo Portas

E-Mail: gp_pp

Fax: + 351 21 3917433

 

Partido Comunista Português (PCP)

Presidente: Dr. Carlos Carvalhas

E-Mail: gp_pcp

Fax: + 351 21 3917432

 

Bloco de Esquerda (BE)

Presidente: Dr. Francisco Louçã

E-Mail: francl

Fax: + 351 21 3917459

 

Partido Ecologista Os Verdes (PEV)

Presidente:Dra Heloísa Apolónia

E-Mail: heloisa

Fax: + 351 21 3917424