[e-drug] pharmacist v/s physician? (cont'd)

["John Dunlop" <john@cpsl.biz>]

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An interesting point but it ignores the issue of *competence*. It surely doesn't matter what the baseline profession is, rather it is more important to assure that any health professional carrying out differing roles, has demonstrated the *competence* to provide those roles. Most of the activities undertaken by pharmacists are technical roles involved with the supply and distribution functions of a retail pharmacy, which over time have been, and will continue to be provided by people less qualified than pharmacists.

As I see it, pharmacists do not recognise what roles they undertake or could undertake in providing patient care. What is it that pharmacists do - to enhance patient care? How do pharmacists demonstrate that they actually care for the patient? 

It seems to me that there is no other group of health professionals better positioned to address the very costly (in terms of both health and money) issue of drug related morbidity and mortality. Sadly most pharmacists are not prepared to do the small extra amount of study that would begin to provide them with the competencies to address this issue and define and develop the roles designed to address this issue.

Governments want to use pharmacists' skills, but the reality is, they have no idea what those skills are. Pharmacy leaders seem hell bent on protecting the economic viability of an unchanging model of retail pharmacy and do not appear interested in promoting the development of new skill sets, or providing the economic opportunities for pharmacists to employ those skills.
 
When there is agreement on what pharmacists'  health care roles actually are, with the practise standards and the health benefits that will accrue to the patient defined, then - and only then - will we be able to fully participate as members of the health care team.

John Dunlop
PGDipPharm, MPharm, FACPP, MCPP, FNZCP, MPS, MRPharmS
john@cpsl.biz