[Strife between the dispensing physician and the pharmacist--a historical overview IV. 1979-1987]

In 1981 a liaison committee established between the Medical Association of South Africa (MASA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) to probe the dispensing-doctor issue, published a joint declaration of co-operation. After a brief truce, however, relationships deteriorated again. Pharmacists claimed that the numbers of dispensing doctors were rapidly increasing and each profession accused the other of breaking the agreement. According to the PSSA many doctors were transgressing the MASA's guidelines and the Medical Council's ethical rule 28 by trading in medicines. Subsequent legislation approved by the Council and designed to obviate this problem brought unexpected complications, and led to a joint effort by the Medical Council and the Pharmacy Council to reach an acceptable compromise. In 1984 a tentative agreement was reached but not endorsed by the full Medical Council, largely because of pending recommendations from the Competition Board which would profoundly affect dispensing by pharmacists and doctors. These recommendations were made public in November 1986, and the Government's response to them is still being awaited. The author finally summarises the status quo of the age-old feud as he perceives it.