Dr. Wolfgang Hevert Prize

Every two years since 2006, the Dr. Wolfgang Hevert Prize – an advancement award – is given out by Hevert-Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG. The award usually goes to scientific works in the area of holistic medicine concerned with basic research, clinical tests, therapeutic concepts or particular case descriptions in holistic medicine, such as in naturopathy. A jury composed of recognized experts in this field will decide who wins the award.

The advancement prize was instituted in memory of the work and vision of the former managing director of Hevert-Arzneimittel. Dr. med. Wolfgang Hevert, pharmacist and doctor for naturopathic treatment, did not only devote himself to the expansion of the product range but was also dedicated to the establishment and development of the family-run company to one of the leading manufacturers of natural remedies. He put a lot of energy into the advancement of the relationship between traditional homeopathic complex remedies, modern phytotherapy and therapy-appropriate vitamin preparations and thus contributed to the development of holistic medicine. The prize dedicated to Dr. Wolfgang Hevert is meant to award the same energy and commitment to scientific work in the field of holistic medicine.

Dr. med. Wolfgang Hevert 1947-2003

Scientific career

Pharmacy degree at the Freie Universität Berlin
Pharmacist license
Medical degree at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Specialization as general practitioner for naturopathic treatment
Doctoral thesis at the Universität Mainz on isotope nephrography

Professional career

Head of Production at Hevert-Arzneimittel
Medical work in his own practice in Wiesbaden
Managing Director of Hevert-Arzneimittel

Commitment to health policy and membership in associations

German Pharmaceutical Industry Association (Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie)
German Medicines Manufacturers‘ Association (Bundesverband der Arzneimittelhersteller)

After completing his doctorate in pharmacy, he joined the management of the family-run company at the side of his mother. As Head of Production, he began to take the destiny of the company in hand. He soon realized that he would need further medical knowledge to promote the company’s success. Therefore he decided to study medicine at the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz alongside his work within the company. During and after his time at the university he completed internships and job shadowing experiences in various medical practices and hospitals. He obtained this doctorate with a thesis on isotope nephrography.

After completing his medical degree and specializing as general practitioner for naturopathic treatment, Dr. Hevert led a private practice in Wiesbaden from 1983 till 1986. During this period he was able to gain treatment experience and to continuously further his knowledge which influenced his development of naturopathic preparations and holistic therapy concepts. Dr. Hevert invested a lot of his time in the development of new products: In addition to oral combination homeopathic medicines and single homeopathic remedies, mineral and vitamin preparations, phytopharmaceuticals and medicinal teas, this also included numerous formulas that he had developed for injectable homeopathic preparations.

In 1990, Dr. Hevert assumed the sole management of the company as Managing Director.

The new German drug law (AMG) adopted in 1976 had far-reaching consequences for Dr. Hevert’s work within the company and in health policy. The AMG, which came into effect on January 1, 1978, introduced a mandatory approval procedure for all medicines and required pharmaceutical companies to retroactively submit all products that had been on the market before that date for testing for quality, efficacy and safety in order to obtain final approval, which is referred to as re-registration.

So it fell to Dr. Hevert to not accept the impending shakeout and culling of proven natural healing remedies without a fight. Together with the pharmaceutical associations but also in direct contact with the political world, Dr. Hevert campaigned not only for his own company, but for the whole market, on all fronts for a liberal definition of the legal framework and for the preservation of the largest possible diversity of naturopathic preparations and active ingredients.

Dr. Wolfgang Hevert passed away of heart failure on March 20, 2003 at the age of 55.