I nearly died and I had "last rites" administered to me. Several weeks later when I woke up and I was told many people I didn't know had prayed for me over time (remotely) and I recovered to the amazement of my doctors. I never heard any of the prayers but I recovered. Prior to this experience I might have considered a placebo effect but not after that.
The Placebo Effect is obviously and incontrovertibly effective. That does not mean that prayer (up close and personal) is not also effective.