A few weeks ago I blogged about some very public criticism of pharmacy practice in the United Kingdom. I noted that pharmacies were being publicly criticized for selling homeopathy, and this was causing a public relations disaster for Boots, one of the UK’s leading pharmacy chains, and a proud vendor of homeopathy. The mockery of Boots has continued. And there’s now a new public campaign to raise awareness of the fact that homeopathy is an elaborate placebo system, and has no place in pharmacies.
Cleverly (but somewhat confusingly) called “10:23” (Remember what that number means?) the campaign has the following goals:
The 10:23 campaign aims to raise awareness of the reality of homeopathy – how it can be proven not to work, how it can be shown to be impossible, and why it’s important to give patients the right information to allow them to make an informed decision on their healthcare.
The campaign starts in a few weeks – and they’ve already posted their open letter to Boots – here’s an excerpt:
We call upon Boots to withdraw all homeopathic products from your shelves. You should not be involved in the sale of ineffective products, because your customers trust you to do what is right for their health. Surely you agree that your commitment to excellent patient care is better served by supplying only those products whose claims can be substantiated by rigorous scientific research? Or do you really believe that Boots should be in the business of selling placebos to the sick and the injured?
The support lent by Boots to this quack therapy contributes directly to its acceptance as a valid medical treatment by the British public, acceptance it does not warrant and support it does not deserve. Please do the right thing, and remove this bogus therapy from your shelves.
If you’re interested in the campaign, you can sign up and find out more. And follow the chatter on Twitter. I suspect the PR problems for homeopathy-selling pharmacies may be just beginning.
Science-Based Pharmacy 
Now if only we can start getting the targeting of Canadian pharmacies as part of the campaign. Hey, Safeway, ginger isn’t Gravol, even if it says so on the box!
I wouldn’t write off ginger completely just yet. It seems to have some promise for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. With respect to motion sickness, however, I agree that there’s no persuasive data to support efficacy.
Pingback: Unapproved Natural Health Products Banned from Ontario Pharmacies « Science-Based Pharmacy
Pingback: Pharmacies Targeted in Mass Homeopathy Overdose « Science-Based Pharmacy
Gosh, I’m glad to be Canadian.
Oh the horror, if that wanker Prince Charles were to ever be *my* king…
Oh wait… dammit.
That wanker Charles will not be king – nobody wants him. William is the one to breathe new life and most importantly new genes into the monarchy!