Historical Perspective of Homeopathy in the Brazilian Public Health System

Abstract

Homeopathy was introduced in Brazil with the French doctor Benoît Jules Mure's arrival in 1840 and was officially recognised in 1980 as a medical specialty by Brazilian regulatory authorities. Public health policies played an important role in incorporating homeopathy into the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), emphasising homeopathy's coherence with SUS's fundamental principles and with other national health policies. Homeopathy is supported by the guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Policy and the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices, and its offer in the SUS has been recognised since 2006. Challenges persist, however, such as the low prevalence of the use of homeopathy, lack of investment in professional training and under-reporting of homeopathy outpatient appointments. Investments in disseminating information on homeopathic philosophy and raising awareness among managers and health professionals are essential to strengthen its presence in the Brazilian public health system.