Homoeopathy today is a rapidly growing system and is being practiced almost all over the world. In India it has become a household name due the safety of its pills and gentleness of its cure. A rough study states that about 10% of the Indian population solely depend on Homoeopathy for their Health care needs and is considered as the Second most popular system of medicine in the Country.

It is more than a century and a half now that Homoeopathy is being practiced in India. It has blended so well into the roots and traditions of the country that it has been recognised as one of the National System of Medicine and plays a very important role in providing health care to a large number of people. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels.

The word ‘Homoeopathy’ is derived from two Greek words, Homois meaning similar and pathos meaning suffering. Homoeopathy simply means treating diseases with remedies, prescribed in minute doses, which are capable of producing symptoms similar to the disease when taken by healthy people. It is based on the natural law of healing- "Similia Similibus Curantur” which means "likes are cured by likes”. It was given a scientific basis by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann ( 1755-1843) in the early 19th century. It has been serving suffering humanity for over two centuries and has withstood the upheavals of time and has emerged as a time tested therapy, for the scientific principles propounded by Hahnemann are natural and well proven and continue to be followed with success even today.

National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata

The National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) was established on 10 December 1975 in Kolkata as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Institute has been offering Degree courses in Homoeopathy since 1987 and Postgraduate courses since 1998-99. The NIH was affiliated to the University of Calcutta up to 2003-04 and is affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Sciences from 2004- 05 onwards The NIH also conducts regular Orientation Training courses for Teachers and Physicians.

The BHMS course is of 5 ½ years duration (including one year compulsory Internship). The MD (Hom) course is available in three subjects’ viz. Organon of Medicine, Repertory and Materia Medica. Six seats are available in each subject.

The Inpatient and Outpatient Departments in the NIH provide subsidized and in some cases free medical services to patients. Specialized clinics with clinical pathology, radiology, ultrasonography and ECG investigation facilities are available. Facilities for sophisticated biochemical investigations are also available. The NIH has 60- bed Hospital, of which 10 beds are earmarked for surgery and 10 for maternity cases. In addition to the 60 beds, there are 8 Air-conditioned pay cabins. A 6-bed paediatric ward has been opened recently. The Institute has a fully equipped operation theatre. New equipment and instruments, such as pulse oximeter, diathermy, portable X-ray, Horizontal sterilizer and an O.T. lamps have been added. Orthopedic surgery is also available. The hospital has a Labour Room and undertakes antenatal and postnatal care of the mother and child.