CAIRO: The case filed by an Egyptian woman against four satellite TV channels for promoting alternative medicine through “unqualified guests on their shows” has been postponed to November, head of the Doctors' Syndicate Hamdy El-Sayed told Daily News Egypt. Al Baraheen International, the company under which the channels operate, is accused of disregarding laws that regulate the practice of alternative medicine as per the standards of the ministry of health, added El-Sayed. “We are partners in this case. There are a lot of satellite TV channels without monitoring. We are glad to help protect viewers' health and the integrity of the profession,” said El-Sayed. According to a press statement released by the Syndicate earlier this week, guests hosted on the channels in question are not qualified to offer medical advice. In addition, the statement is accusing Al Baraheen of encouraging viewers to adopt cupping, a form of traditional medicine that involves placing cups containing reduced air pressure, on skin and then drawing blood from the upped locations. “Some alternative medicine through herbs is beneficial, but methods such as cupping is not permitted under the Ministry of Health,” explained El-Sayed, adding that the disgruntled viewer is accusing the channels of taking advantage of patients who have failed to find a cure for their illnesses through conventional methods. “They are also breaching the rules of professionalism and media ethics,” added El-Sayed. Online news portal masrawy.com reported that one of the channels hosted a guest who said that he can cure all illness through herbal treatments. The speaker reportedly holds a bachelor's degree in physical education. Another program invited a graduate of political science who asserts she is able to cure all dermatological diseases through herbs, Masrawy reported. Meanwhile, the syndicate said that while the practice of alternative medicine exists as an underground industry and suffers from little supervision or monitoring, the health ministry has yet to approve cupping as a legal form of therapy. El-Sayed explained, however, that acupuncture is considered legal and is widely practiced. “Other forms of treatment need to undergo research and be accredited by the ministry of health before being practiced,” he added. Similarly, a medical doctor at Cairo University told Daily News Egypt, “There are numerous uses and benefits to alternative medicine, including herbal treatments. But such practices need to be regulated in terms of who prescribes them and the products used for therapy.”
