Press Release

Date: 15 March 2010

Time: 10:00
Contact: Press Office 020 7084 3651
Out of hours 07770 446 189
press.office@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

_________________________________________________________________

Appointments to the Advisory Board on the Registration of

Homoeopathic Products

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the
Appointments Commission are pleased to announce the appointment of six members
to the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products (ABRHP).

The ABRHP is an independent body that works closely with the MHRA, advising UK
health ministers on the regulation of homoeopathic products.

Professor Gillian Eccleston is currently professor of pharmaceutics at Strathclyde

University. She is also a member of the Chemistry, Pharmacy and Standards Expert
Advisory Group and a member of the British Pharmacopeia Commission.

Mr Andrew Farrow is currently patient/carer governor of the Salisbury Hospital NHS

Foundation Trust. He has been appointed as a lay representative.

Mr Needleman is currently a registered community pharmacist and homeopath.

Dr Gary Smyth is currently a general practitioner and a homeopathic physician. He is

also a member of the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Board.

Dr Dominic Williams is currently a senior lecturer at the Medical Research Council’s

Centre for Drug Safety Science at the University of Liverpool.

Dr Alan Worsley is currently principal lecturer of pharmacognosy and pharmacy

practice at the University of Sunderland.

All members have been appointed for a four year term commencing 1 April 2010.

These appointments are not remunerated, however a fee of £275 per meeting for
members is paid to cover preparation and attendance together with any travel and
accommodation costs.
All appointments are made on merit. Political activity plays no part in the selection
process. In accordance with the original Nolan Recommendations there is a
requirement for appointees’ political activity (if declared) to be made public.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public
Appointments Code of Practice.

Ends

Notes to Editor

1. Details of the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products

can be found at:
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicinesadvisorybodies/AdvisoryBoard
ontheRegistrationofHomoeopathicProducts/index.htm

2. Details of the Appointments Commission is available on their website

http://www.appointments.org.uk/

3. Details of the Nolan Recommendations can be found on the Commissioner for

Public Appointments website
http://www.publicappointmentscommissioner.org/

4. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines
and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free.
Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgments to ensure that
the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over
medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public
promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone –the public and
healthcare professionals as well as the industry – to tell us about any
problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and
take any necessary action.
www.mhra.gov.uk