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REMEDY
AND SOCIETY
The
Austrian Society for the History of Pharmacy and the Department of
Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, cordially invites you to the
39th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy in September
2009 in Vienna. The congress focuses on the topic "REMEDY AND
SOCIETY" to stress the manifold scientific, economic, political,
social and cultural impacts on the development, distribution and use
of remedies. |
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traditional apothecary's role as a producer of medicines has changed
substantially during the last two centuries. The rapid development
in natural science has led to the discovery of potent novel remedies.
Due to new production methods, the majority of drugs is not produced
in the apothecary's laboratory anymore but in high tech labs of international
pharmaceutical companies. The success story of modern remedies influences
not only therapy but also society. Improving the quality of life and
extending life span are positive consequences. However, one major
negative effect on people's health is the growing drug intake by self-medication,
an attitude which is triggered by advertisements in the media. The
abuse of drugs and narcotics is hardly a phenomenon of modern society,
though the excessive drug consumption throughout all levels of society
is a very recent development. Today, the sale of medicines restricted
to pharmacies is faced with a new distribution channel, the internet.
Medicines and many health-affecting products |
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purchased
via the internet may bear a health risk for the consumer because neither
the quality nor the products' harmlessness or efficacy is secured.
Selling such medicinal products via internet is in conflict with the
legal orders for drug distribution in many states and presents new
challenges for health politics. Furthermore, the increasing demand
for complementary and alternative medicine during the last decades
has led to an acceptance of traditional healing methods, mainly of
Asian origin, in Europe and to a revival of remedies and therapies
used in former times.
The history of remedies, drug abuse in bygone eras, the change of
legal regulations throughout the times and the changing impact on
society are fields of great interest for historians of pharmacy. The
congress organizers expect many interesting contributions to these
topics and hope that a great number of colleagues will participate
in the congress in Vienna. |
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FORWARD TO MEETING YOU IN VIENNA 2009! |
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Prof.
Dr. Christa Kletter
Congress President |
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