Wednesday 16 February 2011

Homoeopathy Consultation

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has called for consultation on changing the regulation of homeopathic products.  Replies must be submitted by Fri 18 Feb 2011, so this post is up to the wire.  Read the consultation document here http://bit.ly/g0rSig

Here is a proposed reply, for those wishing to add support for evidence based medicine in this regard.

To: andrea.farmer@mhra.gsi.gov.uk
Ms Andrea Farmer
MHRA, Area 5M
151 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria, London SW1W 9SZ
...date...

Dear Ms Farmer,
I am writing to you about the MHRA consultation document entitled "Review of Medicines Act 1968: informal consultation on issues relating to the PLR regime and homoeopathy".
As a member of the public who values evidence based medical practice, and recognises the dangers inherent in misleading claims for medical efficacy, I am deeply concerned by the current orchestrated campaign in support of unproven homoeopathic treatments, and their potential to delay or avoid the application of proven medical therapies, which is led by self-interested homoeopaths.
I consider it to be a fundamental duty of a democratic society to ensure that patients and clinicians are provided with clear information about potential remedies which is founded on reliable scientific evidence. This includes homoeopathy, the efficacy of which, as you know, is not supported by the current scientific consensus.
I contend that the marketing of any substance which may be offered for sale or application, with an implied or explicit claim of medical efficacy, and which may be considered by patients or clinicians to be suitable as a substitute for, or an addition to, conventional therapeutic remedies, should be subject to the same Marketing Authorisation (MA) requirements as the therapeutic remedies for which they may be substituted.
Therefore I strongly urge the MHRA to move homoeopathic products to full Marketing Authorisation (MA) requirements, rather than the NRS or simplified scheme.

Yours sincerely,

...name...

...address...

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