Homoeopathy is risky and useless: UK scientist

Homoeopathic medicine is putting lives at risk and is useless, says a top scientist associated with the British government.

Speaking to MPs, chief scientific adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sir David King, said, "There is not one jot of evidence supporting the notion that homoeopathic medicines are of any assistance whatsoever. Therefore, I would say it is a risk to the population because people may take them expecting they are dealing with a serious problem," the Daily Mail, quoted him as saying.

Sir David criticised the department of health for funding homoeopathic treatments.

Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris said homoeopathic treatment was difficult to justify when it worked "as a placebo at best and when the NHS cannot afford medicines that are known to be effective".