Second Nonnweiler Declaration
Reimbursement of the costs of
mistletoe preparations used in adjuvant cancer therapy
Based on the present state of scientific knowledge and cognisant
of the new research results discussed at the 5th International
Symposium "Mistletoe in Cancer Therapy - Basic Research and
Clinical Practice" held from 10th to 12th November 2011 in
Nonnweiler, the participants of that symposium hereby declare that
the costs of parenteral administration of mistletoe preparations
not only in the palliative but also in the adjuvant therapeutic
setting should remain reimbursable by the statutory health
insurance (SHI) funds.
Clinical studies have shown that mistletoe preparations improve
the quality of life of cancer patients and the tolerability of
conventional cancer therapies (ref. 1-4). There is also evidence
that the survival of cancer patients is prolonged (ref. 2, 4).
As the studies concerned were performed both in adjuvant and in
palliative therapy settings, restriction of reimbursability by the
SHI scheme to palliative therapy of malignant tumours is not
justified.
Despite this, such restrictions on the reimbursability of
mistletoe preparations by the SHI scheme have been in force since
the end of September 2011, based on the grounds given for the
Federal Social Court's most recent ruling. As a result of this,
effective, well tolerated, useful and cost-effective treatment with
mistletoe preparations is being withheld from many patients in the
adjuvant therapy setting.
Therefore, and in accordance with their ethical responsibility
to the cancer patients whose care has been entrusted to them and
who seek their advice, the representatives of the medical and
pharmaceutical professions who are gathered together at this
symposium call for treatment with mistletoe preparations to be made
reimbursable by the SHI scheme in cases in which the physician
considers such medicines to be a necessary component of oncological
therapy.
References:
1. Kienle GS, Kiene H: Influence of Viscum album L
(European Mistletoe) extracts on quality of life in cancer
patients: a systematic review of controlled clinical studies.
Integr Cancer Ther 2010; 9(2):142-57.
Volltext (PDF)
2. Kienle GS, Glockmann A, Schink M, Kiene H: Viscum
album L. extracts in breast and gynaecological cancers: a
systematic review of clinical and preclinical research. Journal of
Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research 2009; 28:79,
DOI:10.1186/1756-9966-28-79. Abstract (PubMed)
HTML Volltext (PDF)
3. Horneber M et al.: Cochrane Library 2008 (auch
nachzulesen in Scheer et al.: Die Mistel in der
Tumortherapie 2 2009, S. 295 ff, KVC-Verlag Essen.
4. Kienle GK, Kiene H: Complementary cancer therapy: a
systematic review of prospective clinical trials on anthroposophic
mistletoe extracts. Eur J Med Res 2007, 12:103-19. Volltext (PDF)
Nonnweiler, 12. November 2011
On behalf of the scientific associations, organisers and
participants of the 5th Mistletoe Symposium signed
by:
Prof. Dr. Susanne Alban, Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft
(DPhG)
Prof. Dr. Hans Becker, Universität des Saarlandes
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Blaschek, Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzen-
und Naturstoff-Forschung (GA)
Dr. Thomas Breitkreuz, Gesellschaft anthroposophischer Ärzte in
Deutschland (GAÄD)
Dr. Maria Frühwald, Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Fritz H. Kemper, Gesellschaft für
Phytotherapie e.V. (GPT)
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Kreis, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
PD Dr. Harald Matthes, Hufeland-Gesellschaft
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Heinz Schilcher, Zentralverband der
Ärzte für Naturheilverfahren und Regulationsmedizin (ZAEN)
Dr. Rainer Stange, Zentralverband der Ärzte für
Naturheilverfahren und Regulationsmedizin (ZAEN) und Gesellschaft
für Phytotherapie e.V. (GPT)