Homeopathy: since the delisting, how is the sector doing?

Gauthier Delomez 4:46 p.m., November 17, 2021, modified at 4:47 p.m., November 17, 2021

INTERVIEW

Homeopathy she undergoes its delisting?

Since January 1, 2021, this alternative medicine is no longer supported by Social Security.

It was one of the flagship measures carried by the former Minister of Health, Agnès Buzyn, which allows the State to save more than 126 million euros per year.

On the other hand, the measure forces regular consumers to buy the granules in full, and it also affects professionals in the sector.

In the show

, Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot, director of Boiron laboratories specializing in homeopathy, explains that sales have fluctuated for a year.

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A loss of 100 million euros in turnover

The delisting of this alternative medicine, which has not yet proved its worth in science, and the health crisis caused the sales of the family business to fall at the start of the year.

"This delisting will cause us to lose more than 100 million euros in turnover, or roughly 25 to 30% of sales," said Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot on Europe 1.

“The first quarter was extremely complicated as the group experienced a 42% drop [in homeopathic product sales]. But everything we put in place is starting to work. The second and third quarters were slightly positive. at the group level, even if France remains in decline ", notes the director of the Boiron laboratories. 

"The novelties are working very well"

Valérie Lorentz-Poinsot is optimistic and underlines the affection for homeopathy, both abroad and in France. "In other countries, we have a dynamic that continues. In France, patients always ask us for homeopathy. One of the indicators is that the new products we have, such as a syrup against colds and coughs, or a drug for infant colic, work very well ", explains the director, who draws the conclusions:" It means that there is a need of the French ".

Despite a departure plan of 500 employees out of the 1,800 in the company and the closure of 13 sites out of 28 in total at the end of 2021, the reorganized company will continue to develop the sector.

It will always manufacture "standard or personalized drugs, since homeopathy is a therapeutic medicine where one makes the individualization of the treatments", specifies its director, who ensures that the manufacture will not decrease if there is no decrease in demand.

"We manufacture in France, in Lyon, 99.8% of homeopathy that goes all over the world, so we will keep this know-how."