[e-drug] Prescribing and dispensing in one hand? (12)

["Foppe van Mil" <jwfvmil@planet.nl>]

E-DRUG: Prescribing and dispensing in one hand? (12)
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Hello all,

As a  response to Paul Lobb's remark about the prescribing pharmacist: I am
not so sure that is a good idea either. But in the UK setting this
pharmacist prescribing seems to be fully protocolised and controlled in a
sense that the pharmacist is an extension of the doctors' hand. But there
also is a fundamental difference between diagnosing, prescribing and
dispensing. Doctors have usually not been educated to prescribe either
(perhaps only clinical pharmacologists have), but to diagnose.

Pharmacist do 'prescribe' in OTC, and especially in that field you see a lot
of unethical practices for often you see the too much and too expensive
syndrome. So, there indeed are certain things that pharmacists should not be
allowed to do either.

So, imho, we need to separate the two professional activities as much as
possible: Doctors diagnose, Pharmacist dispense (in the true meaning of the
word, the right drug for the right patient with the right information etc.).
That is what we both have been educated to do. 

And what should be prescribed is a different discussion, that should be held
in the triangle patient, doctor and pharmacist. 

Best regards,

Foppe van Mil
Pharmacy Practice Consultant
jwfvmil@planet.nl
The Netherlands