Education
How are anthroposophic doctors trained?
Every anthroposophic doctor completes formal conventional medical training. After graduating from medical school, the doctor is licensed by his or her governing body and then undergoes specialized training.
This is why you will find anthroposophic doctors in general medicine as well as all major medical specialities: from surgery, paediatrics, pathology, cardiology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, ENT, oncology, gynaecology, orthopaedics, neurology and psychiatry. In addition to their speciality, doctors will then complete at least three years of study with a focus on the main elements of anthroposophic medicine. Training centres are located in anthroposophical clinics in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, Italy and Switzerland. Practical experience in this alternative diagnostic and therapeutic approach to patient care is gained through work experience in the anthroposophical practices of other physicians, or the physician's own practice under the supervision of expert faculty.
Several special schools in Germany and Switzerland offer training courses. In addition, there are postgraduate courses for doctors who have already advanced in anthroposophic medicine. The latest scientific findings and therapeutic developments are presented and discussed in working groups and at national or international conferences, where the anthroposophical position towards current medical issues is elaborated.
Professorships or chairs in anthroposophical medicine currently exist at the universities of San Francisco (USA), Hamburg (Germany) and Bern (Switzerland). In addition, introductory lectures on anthroposophical medicine are included in the curriculum at many universities in Europe and elsewhere.
Do anthroposophic doctors take on insured patients?
Wherever possible, anthroposophic doctors are fully integrated into the health services of each country.
Anthroposophic medicine is recognised by the public health services of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
There are also many anthroposophic doctors and therapists in these countries, as well as in Denmark and Spain, who offer their services privately.
Can anthroposophic doctors be called to an emergency?
Of course! This is something every doctor learns. Anthroposophic doctors have a duty to provide first aid just like any other doctor. Every anthroposophic clinic has an intensive care unit with all the modern equipment necessary. For this reason, the Filderklinik anthroposophical clinic near Stuttgart has been the first aid hospital for Stuttgart Airport, which covers national and international flights - since 1975.
A very important step for the recognition of Anthroposophical Medicine worldwide!
In response to the growing popularity of Anthroposophic Medicine worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published benchmarks for training in Anthroposophic Medicine. The WHO's setting of qualification standards for practitioners of Anthroposophic Medicine reflects its importance as a global medical practice and provides patients with a clear standard of care.
This is an important step for Anthroposophic Medicine to be further integrated into national health systems.
"As more and more countries are setting policies for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, WHO has developed the benchmarks for Anthroposophic Medicine as a reference for policymakers, health workers and education providers," said Dr Kim Sungchol, Head of the Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Unit at WHO.
This publication is the result of a rigorous peer-review process of mapping and reviewing anthroposophic medicine training standards according to WHO criteria. "We are very pleased with the results. The benchmarks fully reflect what the Anthroposophic Medicine community considers to be the minimum training for health care workers to practice Anthroposophic Medicine," added Dr Matthias Girke, an expert in internal medicine and Head of the Medical Department at Goetheanum (Switzerland), the international coordinating centre for Anthroposophic Medicine.
