University deans push for charter to regulate alternative medicine courses in French universities

French university deans are calling for a common charter to regulate "alternative medicine" courses, citing concerns about financial and sectarian abuses. The initiative follows a government mission to map and evaluate the quality of these university programs. Isabelle Laffont, president of the Conference of Medical Deans, acknowledges that some continuing education diplomas have slipped "under the radar" and are of uneven quality. She states that practices lacking scientific evidence should not be taught, while supporting complementary approaches with proven efficacy, such as adapted physical activity and hypnosis in operating rooms. The deans question how diplomas in disciplines without scientific foundation were created, noting these courses sometimes fall outside medical faculties. Laffont emphasizes the need to standardize evaluation processes for university diplomas, as most existing programs are properly validated and monitored.