The overregulation of pharmacy practice

Many professions are highly regulated, yet few are regulated to the degree pharmacy is. Not only are there large numbers of regulations, but the regulations are so detailed they dictate precisely how pharmacists are to perform both dispensing and clinical services. As a result, pharmacists end up trying to meet the requirements of the regulations rather than exercising professional judgment and providing true pharmaceutical care. Many of the regulations are unnecessary intrusions into the practice of pharmacy and tend to diminish its professionalism.