Physician drug dispensing

We have reviewed the issue of physician drug dispensing by focusing upon quality of care, economic considerations, drug availability, patient compliance, safety, and increased governmental regulation. From a quality of care perspective, the increased use of pharmacist assistants, the tendency toward generic and therapeutic drug substitution, and the less specialized clinical education of pharmacists all pose hazards rather than safety checks upon physician prescribing. There is no evidence that pharmacists charge less than physicians. If they did, there would be no need to protect their incomes legislatively by restricting physician dispensing. Economic motivation per se is less important to a physician than providing a true convenience for his patients and thus encouraging a closer doctor-patient relationship. Physician dispensing adds to the availability of medication and may minimize the number of patients shuttling between pharmacies to obtain complex multi-ingredient preparations. Compliance is enhanced as availability increases. Prepackaged pharmaceuticals prepared under the auspices of pharmacists and dispensed by physicians are at least as safe as those prepared by the ungloved hands of a pharmacist hidden behind store counters. Thus, restricting the physician's right to dispense can negatively affect the quality of medical care, the cost of medications, safety, the availability of pharmaceuticals, and patient compliance. Such limitation is certainly not in the best interest of our patients.