Teaching the irrational in a rational way?[1]
Press release from the French National Academy of Medicine
30 September 2026
The French National Academy of Medicine (ANM) warns about the proliferation, within universities, of qualifications dedicated to non-conventional healthcare practices (such as naturopathy, aromatherapy, mindfulness meditation, etc.). These approaches, which lack any scientific validation, are not included in the initial training of healthcare professionals.
There are now more than 200 university diplomas (DU) or inter-university diplomas (DIU), a number that has doubled in ten years. Aimed at physicians and other healthcare professionals, these courses which contribute to the funding of faculties undermine their credibility.
In the absence of scientific evidence, these practices expose patients to the risk of
delays in the management of serious conditions. They also contribute to undermining confidence in evidence-based medicine, in favor of unsubstantiated beliefs, which may have consequences for public health.
Against a backdrop of misinformation in the health sector, ANM recommends the immediate halt to academic accreditation for healthcare practices that have not been scientifically validated, and an urgent audit of existing training programmes.
[1] Statement adopted by the Academy’s Board of Directors
