Pharmacy Daily | Homeopathy ultimatum

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has ramped up its rhetoric against homeopathic products, formally urging the Australian community pharmacy sector to cease selling them, and remove such items from their shelves.

Newly appointed PSA National President, Dr Chris Freeman, has published an open letter and written to major banner and buying groups, noting that many people were not aware that there was no reliable evidence for the use of homeopathic products.

"Public health is put at risk if people choose homeopathy over treatments that evidence shows are safe and effective," he said.

"Community pharmacy banner and buying groups should draw a line in the sand and cease all activities that encourage the stocking, promotion, recommendation or marketing of homeopathy," the PSA urged.

The open letter follows the publication last month of the PSA's recommendations to NPS MedicineWise's Choosing Wisely campaign (PD 13 Dec) which included a warning about promotion and provision of homeopathic products.

Freeman said banner and buying groups, as well as individual pharmacists, may believe that stocking such items provides a platform for "matter of fact" conversations about the lack of evidence for homeopathic products.

"It has become increasingly clear that in pharmacies where these products are stocked, these conversations may not occur, as the patient may see the presence of these products as a de facto endorsement of their appropriateness," Freeman said.

"It has also become clear that where a pharmacy does not stock homeopathic products, these conversations occur, and the result is that counselling is provided without any risk of supplying a product that has no evidence."

Freeman noted that the supply of homeopathic products was a clear contravention of the PSA Code of Ethics for Pharmacists.

"Banner and buying groups should do everything in their power to remove these products from their shelves," he said.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President congratulated community pharmacists who had made the decision to remove these products, or were planning to do so.

"We need to lead by example so patients continue to see community pharmacy as a health destination that provides the best possible evidence-based care."

Freeman urged community pharmacy groups to commit to ensure that their patients receive robust health advice "and are not misled into believing homeopathic products have any evidence of benefit".