On 17 May Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a proposal to promote alternative medicines including Homeopathy: yes: 67%, no: 33%.

Homeopathy, herbal and neural therapies as well as traditional Chinese Medicine, could be paid by compulsary health insurance under the new health services plan.

However, the government says such treatments must be effective, reasonably priced and appropriate to be included in the list of paid health services.

Alternative medicine was given a boost when the electorate gave wholehearted backing to an initiative requiring complementary forms of medicine to be covered by obligatory health insurance.

Alternative forms of medicine - including homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicine - are very popular in Switzerland, and approval had been expected.

Final results showed a 67 per cent approval rate and the backing of all cantons.

Opponents had unsuccessfully argued that including these forms of treatment would put more financial strain on the health system.

The right wing Swiss People's Party was the only major party to reject the proposal.