The Commerce Commission has issued a warning to New Zealand business Baa Baa Beads over health claims they made about “amber teething necklaces”. The Society for Science Based Healthcare welcomes this decision. The Society for Science Based Healthcare laid a
The Pharmaceutical Society doesn’t think pharmacists should be able to sell healthcare products with no evidence of efficacy. Last week I wrote about the Pharmacy Council’s proposal to change their Code of Ethics, and summarised the submissions that I was aware of. One important organisation that was missing from that roundup is the Pharmaceutical Society. … Continue reading Pharmacists Don’t Want to Sell Unproven Products →
The Pharmacy Council has proposed a change to their code of ethics, here’s everything you need to know. The Pharmacy Council is the statutory body responsible for setting standards of conduct and competence of pharmacists in New Zealand. They have a code of ethics, the Safe Effective Pharmacy Practice Code of Ethics 2011, which currently … Continue reading Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics Proposal: Submissions Roundup →
I’ve written a lot about ethical pharmacy practice in New Zealand, advocating for New Zealand pharmacists to choose not to promote or sell healthcare products that aren’t supported by credible evidence of efficacy. I’ve also complained in the past about misleading advertising of ineffective healthcare products in pharmacies. I strongly believe that we should be … Continue reading Ethical Pharmacy Practice 6: An Opportunity for Change →
In New Zealand, the Pharmacy Council is legally responsible under section 118(i) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 for setting standards of ethical conduct for New Zealand pharmacists. As part of this, they’ve written a Safe Effective Pharmacy Practice Code of Ethics, which requires that: YOU MUST: Only purchase, supply or promote any … Continue reading Ethical Pharmacy Practice 5: Looking for Leadership →
Following a complaint, the Pharmacy Council has reminded New Zealand pharmacists they must be able to counsel patients about the current evidence for alternative medicines such homeopathy. The Society for Science Based Healthcare believes it is unethical for pharmacists to
This year has not been a good year for homeopathy. There have been many blows to the industry in the form of more research finding it ineffective, position statements from organisations of health practitioners discouraging its use, and successful complaints to regulatory authorities. And this trend shows no signs of abating. In March, the Australian … Continue reading Ethical Pharmacy Practice 4: Paving the Way →
In 2007, the Ministry of Health undertook a review of the “complementary medicines industry” in New Zealand, and found that a significant majority of companies weren’t complying with consumer protection legislation. The review was never made public, but when I saw it mentioned in a recent article in North & South magazine I asked the … Continue reading Then and Now: The New Zealand Complementary Medicines Industry →
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from the Society for Science Based Healthcare against the Homeopathy Centre in Christchurch. They ruled that the Homeopathy Centre’s advertisements misled consumers, unduly glamorised the benefits of homeopathy, portrayed unrealistic outcomes, unjustifiably
Woolrest Biomag has once again withdrawn claims that their products can relieve pain, following complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Woolrest Biomag has been claiming in advertisements since at least 1999 that their magnetic mattress underlays can relieve pain.