Prescribing Power
November 13, 2007
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering creating a category of medicines, midway between prescription and non-prescription drugs, that would let pharmacies dispense them without a doctor’s input.
No drugs have been identified as candidates for such. Some consumer groups and pharmacists like it because it would be more convenient for patients. Physicians’ groups, however, are lining up against the proposal, citing safety concerns.
The FDA will have a hearing Wednesday to discuss public health benefits of a new drug category and is accepting public comment through Nov. 28. The agency hasn’t set a timetable for reaching a decision.
At least 11 other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, allow pharmacists to dispense some prescription drugs without a doctor’s involvement.
[via Pittsburg Tribune-Review, Karen Roebuck]
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If they’re going to add on more responsibility for the pharmacist, they’ll have to allow technicians more responsibilities too. Pharmacies are already busy enough without the pharmacist having to decide which strength of pravachol a patient needs (cholesterol and HTN meds are a couple of the drug classes that are being bandied about by the plan’s proponents)
Of course the technician couldn’t counsel patients, but there’s no reason a *competent* technician couldn’t receive an Rx order over the phone, or call to get the strength when the doctor forgot to write it.
I am undecided about the whole BTC thing. I do think that it would help improve pharmacists standing in the medical world, but I am not sure it will end up being worth it.
To Andrew: That problem is a state law thing. In Tennessee certified techs can take phone orders and thus doctor corrections. Our pharmacists take only a few oral orders a day.
that would present another issue with the whole thing… state pharmacy laws vary widely across the country. something more uniform would be in order.