Homeopathy is bunk, WHO says

Back in June, Voice of Young Science Network calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) to condemn the use of homeopathy:

We are calling on the WHO to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV.
Homeopathy does not protect people from, or treat, these diseases.
Those of us working with the most rural and impoverished people of the world already struggle to deliver the medical help that is needed.
When homeopathy stands in place of effective treatment, lives are lost.

On August 21, WHO responds:

Dr Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, WHO:

Our evidence-based WHO TB treatment/management guidelines, as well as the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC) do not recommend use of homeopathy.

Dr Mukund Uplekar, TB Strategy and Health Systems, WHO:

WHO’s evidence-based guidelines on treatment of tuberculosis…have no place for homeopathic medicines.

Dr Teguest Guerma, Director Ad Interim, HIV/AIDS Department, WHO:

The WHO Dept. of HIV/AIDS invests considerable human and financial resources [...] to ensure access to evidence-based medical information and to clinically proven, efficacious, and safe treatment for HIV… Let me end by congratulating the young clinicians and researchers of Sense About Science for their efforts to ensure evidence-based approaches to treating and caring for people living with HIV.

Dr Sergio Spinaci, Associate Director, Global Malaria Programme, WHO:

Thanks for the amazing documentation and for whistle blowing on this issue… The Global Malaria programme recommends that malaria is treated following the WHO Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria.

Joe Martines, on behalf of Dr Elizabeth Mason, Director, Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development, WHO:

We have found no evidence to date that homeopathy would bring any benefit to the treatment of diarrhoea in children…Homeopathy does not focus on the treatment and prevention of dehydration - in total contradiction with the scientific basis and our recommendations for the management of diarrhoea.

[Via the BBC]