The forthcoming Local and European Elections provide us with an opportunity to press our case with our local and European election candidates for greater recognition of complementary therapies and the role that they can play in reducing the cost of our national health services in both primary care and in preventative medicine.
For those of our members who are politically motivated, we hope the following template might be of assistance in promoting the cause.

"Dear Sir/Madam
We are writing to your party ahead of the forthcoming European Parliament Elections to draw your candidates' attention to an important health issue in the EU. The issue is the growing use of complementary and alternative medicine by Europe's citizens that is not being reflected in Member States' National Health policies.
Across Europe rates of chronic illnesses, such as allergies, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis, as well as the myriad manifestations of stress, are increasing - with consequent steep increases in health care expenditure. The impact on productivity levels through chronic illness related work absences is huge and of particular significance in these very difficult economic times. At the same time patients are finding that conventional medicine has limitations and disadvantages in the treatment of chronic disease, particularly when one considers the impact of side effects caused by modern drugs. Consequently, more and more citizens are taking an active interest in their health and seeking help from Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) - which through combining preventive lifestyle advice with holistic treatments helps many patients to deal successfully with their health problems.
According to the World Health Organisation 70% to 80% of the citizens of developed countries have used CAM. Over 100 million EU citizens make use of some form of CAM for their primary health care needs. Furthermore CAM is practised throughout the EU by tens of thousands of practitioners, many of whom are medical doctors, but the majority of them practise primarily in the private sector. Yet CAM disciplines and products are very poorly recognised and regulated by Member States. This means there is currently great inequity when it comes to the availability, accessibility and affordability of CAM for EU citizens.
At a central level the EU has already recognised the growing role CAM is playing in the healthcare of European citizens. The current EU Health Framework Programme 2008-13 and the current EU FP7 Research Programme 2008-13 both refer to and make provisions for CAM research and development. CAM's role in prevention, in promoting better lifestyles that keep people healthier longer, and help prevent the major public health conditions of the day, is being recognised at EU level - but Member States have yet to act on the great potential of CAM. The public demand is ignored.
This is an issue which will determine the vote of the hundreds of thousands of practitioners and many of the clients of CAM in the forthcoming European Parliament election. Accordingly, we would very much like to hear back from your party and your candidates what your position is on this important matter. We would particularly like to hear how your candidates, if elected, will make use of their influence as MEPs to improve the situation for EU citizens in order that they can more easily and equitably access the benefits of CAM in their healthcare.
Yours sincerely
xxx"

(Please pass copies of this letter on to your party's candidates and invite them to contact us directly so that we may advise our practitioners and patients on their election intentions in this area - Aileen O'Conner, NRRI Trustee)