Patients with selected chronic diagnoses were enrolled in medical practice and received conventional treatment or homoeopathy. The outcome measures were the severity of symptoms assessed by patients and physicians (visual rating scale 0–10) at baseline, 6 and 12 months and costs. The analyses of 493 patients (315 adults, 178 children) indicated greater improvement in patients’ assessments after homoeopathic vs. conventional treatment (adults: homoeopathy 5.7–3.2; conventional 5.9–4.4; children 5.1–2.6 and 4.5–3.2). Physician assessments were also more favourable for children who had received homoeopathic treatment (4.6–2.0 and 3.9–2.7). Overall costs showed no significant differences between the treatment groups (adults €2155 vs. € 2013; children €1471 vs. €786).