E-DRUG: Dispensing Doctors (cont)
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Dear E-Druggers,
Magareth Magagula's problem of the "dispensing doctor" in Swaziland is so
familiar and does a memory jog of the many wars we have had in the health
arena in SA!
My colleague, Leon Christodoulou, of the Dept of Education of the SA
Pharmacy Council, spells out a message to the profession when he presently
asks:-
"Do doctors issue or dispense medicines?"
The dispensing process requires an evaluation of the prescription,
preparation, counselling, supply and monitoring. Each activity is quite
involved and is spelt out in the "Good Pharmacy Practice in South Africa"
produced by the SA Pharmacy Council.
The SA Pharmacy Council in consultation with the other health Professional
Councils has produced the core unit standards required for any profession to
dispense. The educational institutes will in the future offer these
courses. The Pharmacy Council will ensure that the quality of the education
as well as the standards for the country will be met.
Together with the siting of pharmacies and dispensing qualifications for any
health professional to dispense medicines, some progressive changes in
healthcare may be made. In the future in SA, we maybe able to say that
doctors and nurses do dispense and are certified to do so. Right now, they
are issuing medicines to the patient.
Licensing a professional person to actually dispense should then be granted
with a permit or licence, and should of necessity only be where the need
exists. This is with the hope that, as WB has pointed out, there will then
be a separation of the diagnosing and dispensing functions.
There is much to be corrected to provide rational healthcare in our country.
I would ask of our colleagues all over the world to wish us luck and guide
us in all our challenges.
(Ms) Mariam Cassimjee
1. KZN Pharmaceutical Services, DoH, Durban, S Africa.
2. Chairman of Practice Committee, S African Pharmacy Council.
E-mail: mimi@iafrica.com
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