Birna,
Regarding your recent e-drug question, there are studies from the
UK and perhaps elsewhere on prescribing practices and higher costs
associated with dispensing doctors. Dukes and Haaijer-Ruskamp cite some
studies in Drugs and Money. We have a short overview on "Dispensing
Clinicians" with references in the draft WHO/DAP discussion paper on
Public Private Roles in the Pharmaceutical Sector. ("Clinicians" since
in most developing countries the practice is numerically more important
among nurses, clinical officers, and other non-doctors.)
Jono Quick, WHO/DAP
e-mail: quickj@who.ch