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Dispensing by the community pharmacist: an unstoppable decline?
The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
|December 1, 1988
Summary
The traditional role of retail chemists in medicine preparation is diminishing. New community roles are already filled by primary care teams, questioning the value and safety of retail pharmacists compared to doctor dispensing.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Pharmaceutical Services
- Primary Care
Background:
- The historical function of retail chemists centered on medicine preparation and dispensing.
- Erosion of the traditional role due to changes in pharmaceutical practice and healthcare delivery.
- Emergence of new proposed community roles for pharmacists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity and evolving role of the retail chemist.
- To assess the current execution of proposed community pharmacy roles.
- To compare the cost-effectiveness and safety of retail pharmacists versus doctor dispensing.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the changing scope of practice for retail chemists.
- Review of primary care team activities and service provision.
- Comparative assessment of dispensing models (retail pharmacist vs. physician).
Main Results:
- The core functions of retail chemists have significantly declined.
- Existing primary care professionals are already performing the newly proposed community roles.
- Doctor dispensing is identified as a more economical and secure alternative to retail pharmacy services.
Conclusions:
- The traditional role of the retail chemist is no longer as critical.
- Redundant service provision by retail pharmacists may not offer optimal value.
- Physician dispensing presents a potentially safer and more cost-effective model for medicine provision.