Failure of physicians cause patients to seek out alternative healers

UTRECHT – Nearly three out of four Dutch physicians see disappointments with traditional healthcare as the main reasons why patients flock to alternative healers. About two out of three physicians acknowledge that the regular medical service does not sufficiently appreciate the patient as a human being. KNMG, the physician’s professional society, intends to raise the issue of alternative healers with its members. So far, the KNMG has insisted that alternative services should only be provided by its members, and should be subject to stringent quality rules. Nine out of ten physicians say that medical care must be based on scientifically proven methods, while 85 percent think that patients are not very discerning when dealing with alternative healers. Over forty percent of the polled physicians want the KNMG to reach out to the alternative sector.