There is some anecdotal evidence that CAM use is on the increase in South Africa. There is also anecdotal evidence that there persists a strong antipathy to the use by conventional medical practitioners. This particularly so amongst surgeons and anaesthetists. Shawni's survey is interesting in that it demonstrates the potential of a closing of the gap between CAM and conventional medicine, which could have some benfit in the third-world state of health in South Africa. One would hope that more of the evidence will appear in the future.
CAM use in a South African perspective
18 June 2007
There is some anecdotal evidence that CAM use is on the increase in South Africa. There is also anecdotal evidence that there persists a strong antipathy to the use by conventional medical practitioners. This particularly so amongst surgeons and anaesthetists. Shawni's survey is interesting in that it demonstrates the potential of a closing of the gap between CAM and conventional medicine, which could have some benfit in the third-world state of health in South Africa. One would hope that more of the evidence will appear in the future.
Competing interests
Nil