13 Notes

Boots: 'we sell homeopathic remedies because they sell, not because they work'

whileyouweresleeping:

Boots, the U.K. pharmacy chain, comes clean about its goals.

Paul Bennett, professional standards director for Boots, told a committee of MPs that the pharmacy chain stocks such items for no other reason than that they are popular.

“There is certainly a consumer demand for these products,” he said. “I have no evidence to suggest they are efficacious.

“It is about consumer choice for us and a large number of our customers believe they are efficacious.”

“Hey, we’re not idiots, but consumers are, so you know, whatever!”

Interesting points here:

  1. I did not know homeopathic treatments were licensed by the U.K. government and the National Health System (just like in France, where we all learn not to question them, ever);
  2. This may not last as the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee looks into the effectiveness of such treatments, a move that could eventually save taxpayers millions of pounds;
  3. Efficacious? Is that a real word?

— In The Telegraph, From London.

Staggering honesty from a CEO there. I hadn’t realised there was a big government investigation into this startling waste of taxpayer’s money going on; I hope it comes to the appropriate conclusion.