There will be more pharmacies offering homeopathy

Every fourth pharmacy has its focus on homeopathy

19/11/2013

Homeopathic medicines are increasingly in demand. This conclusion is drawn by about 90 percent of 200 surveyed pharmacists from public pharmacies within a representative survey conducted by the German Consumer Products Research (GFK), commissioned by the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (BAH). For Dr. med. Barbara Steinhoff, Head of the Department of Herbal and Homeopathic Medicines in the BAH, this is a positive testimony to the high value of homeopathy in the people of Germany.

Already every fourth pharmacy has placed its emphasis on homeopathy. 94 percent of the pharmacies surveyed with this focus stated that their customers demand homeopathic medicines several times a day, and that 96 percent of these customers demand more advice on their application options. But also at the other pharmacies, which is about 70 percent, customers ask daily for homeopathic preparations.

The survey of the CSF also revealed that opinions differ on the effectiveness of both customers and pharmacists. Although scientific studies exist, they can not provide any concrete findings in the sense of evidence-based medicine. For a large proportion of German pharmacists (77 percent), this fact is not decisive. They rely on their own experience.

Too little homeopathy in the study
And another important clue has emerged from the survey of pharmacists. 81 percent of them believe that on the subject „homeopathy“ not enough was entered into her studies. This is one of the reasons why 75 per cent are interested in homeopathic training, with 84 per cent of respondents already attending relevant events. Overall, it is very important for the pharmacists to provide competent advice to the customers so that they can best understand the possibilities of homeopathy. (Fr)