Anthroposophic Medicine, from its inception in 1920 to the present day, has been able to develop well within the European Member States, and has found increasing recognition both amongst the general public and in the academic world, as illustrated by the following data:

• Today there are about 4,800 trained anthroposophic doctors (General Practitioners and Specialists), who are members of the 30 national associations of anthroposophic doctors which come under the umbrella of the IVAA.

• Based on the number of prescriptions it has been estimated, that anthroposophic medicinal products are prescribed by more than 30,000 physicians in 21 of the 27 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eire, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuarnia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), as well as in Norway, Switzerland, alltogether in 65 countries worldwide.

• Anthroposophic medicine is integrated in general and specialised public healthcare in several Eurpean countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK), in Brasil and the USA, and is used in the context of all illnesses, for both minor and major indications.

• All specialities are represented, including Internal Medicine, Obstetrics, Psychiatry, Surgery, Intensive Care Units and First Aid Stations, with a total amount of 2.200 beds. Several clinics have recently been classified by WHO-UNICEF as “Baby-Friendly Hospital”.

• Anthroposophic hospitals include:
  • university teaching hospitals (Germany, Switzerland)
  • other hospitals integrated into public basic health care and emergency care (Germany, Sweden)
  • departments for anthroposophic medicine in public hospitals (Austria, Germany, Switzerland)
  • clinics for special disorders (Brasil, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland) 

Legal situation
Anthroposophic Medicine or Anthroposophic Medicinal Products are legally recognised in the following States: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.
For further information please contact the respective National Medical Associations.
Anthroposophic Medicinal Products are also partly recognised by the European Union.


Recognition
Anthroposophic Medicine is recognised to some extend by the National Medical Associations in the following EU-Member states:

• Austria: http://www.aek.or.at/diplom.html
• Italy: http://www.fnomceo.it
• Switzerland: http://www.fmh.ch

For further information please contact the respective associations.


University
Anthroposophic medicine is taught at medical schools in several EU Member states. There are different types of teaching at medical schools:

• integrated into the basic medical curriculum (Austria, Germany).
• is provided in special auxiliary courses, for example for the training of general practitioners (Holland)
• provided in specifically tailored curricula (Italy, Netherlands, Spain).

For further information please contact the respective National Medical Associations.


Training and Quality Control
High quality of anthroposophic professionals is achieved through guidelines for training and practice for anthroposophic physicians. 

• National medical licence requirements are the prerequisite for practising anthroposophic medicine as a physician. This basic training includes qualification as general practitioner or specialisation in any branch of medicine.

• In addition to the basic training at medical schools the special training in anthroposophic medicine consists of theoretical courses for 2-3 years, followed by periods of mentorship within institutions authorized by the national doctors associations, and case presentations.

• The responsibility for training physicians lies with these national anthroposophic medical associations and the international community of anthroposophic physicians, which meets regularly.

• In addition, International Criteria for a certificate as anthroposophic doctor have been established by the international community of anthroposophic physicians. For further information please browse: www.medsektion-goetheanum.ch

• Anthroposophic medical practice may vary according to specific situations and working conditions in different EU member states. However, the international community of anthroposophic physicians has agreed minimal requirements for a high standard of medical services, which are summarised in Guidelines for Good Professional Practice in Anthroposophic Medicine.

Research
For general information please contact the Research Council of the International Coordination
Anthroposophic Medicine ICAM/Medical Section at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland www.medsektion-goetheanum.ch.
The Research council is chaired at the moment by Prof Dr Peter Matthiessen, University of
Witten/Herdecke peter.matthiessen@uni-wh.de.
  
The major research institutes are:

• Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology IFAEMM, Bad Krozingen, Germany: www.ifaemm.de
• Havelhöhe Research Institute, Berlin, Germany: www.fih-berlin.de
• Louis Bolk Institute in Zeist, Netherlands: www.louisbolk.org
• Institute for Complementary Medicine KIKOM of the University of Bern, Switzerland The KIKOM, which also funds a chair for anthroposophic medicine www.kikom.ch