Pharmacist dispensing right

Recently there is a debate on pharmacist dispensing right at New Straits Times:

Dispensing medicine: Let's conduct in-depth study first
Dispensing medicine: Address the central issue
Dispensing medicine: New system is too troublesome

I am very disappointed at the wrong statement made by Dr. Milton Lum, in his letter he stated that:
"The only healthcare providers who see and treat adverse drug reactions are doctors. Nurses also see adverse drug reactions and they assist doctors in treating them. However, pharmacists do not usually have practical knowledge about adverse drug reactions unless they are practising in hospitals, where they may see and assist doctors."
and
"Drugs are prescribed and dispensed by doctors. Some are branded drugs while others are generics. Many branded drugs do not have generic equivalents. Not all generics have the same efficacy as the branded drugs. It is a fact that the bioequivalence of most generics are unknown, unlike the branded drugs. "

The above 2 statement clearly shows that he is not fully aware of pharmacist capability and make absolute wrong statement which shows that he apparently don't know what is meant by bioequivalence, and the process of a generic getting approved by National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau (NPCB).

Those doctor who object pharmacist dispensing right are just afraid of losing their means of getting extra income from dispensing drugs. Sounds familiar ? It is just like those UMNO conies who are afraid of losing their contracts when people say want to start open tender system. They will give various excuses like no 24 hours pharmacy, troublesome etc… which is just plain nonsense, but I do agree that some people living in rural area will have difficulty in getting medication, thus I would say it is ok for those doctor serving in rural area to dispense, but not those in urban city!

Things like drugs can be get at a cheaper price in a clinic was due to the fact that doctors do get a better deal/discount on some drugs compared with pharmacist, reasons? Ask those pharmaceutical company. Moreover, a doctor can get earn through consultation fee, but there is no consultation fee for seeing a pharmacist, therefore pharmacist will need to earn through other way.

Doctor do study Pharmacology, but how much do they learn compared with a Pharmacist ? I know how to drive a car and M.Schumacher also know, but the difference is the driving skill he has got is more than me…that is the main point, both Dr and RPh have different specialized skills and they work together for the benefit of patients!

To all Malaysian, medication error can be very minor, but it can also be life-threatening. Pharmacist is your another barrier for preventing this from happening, pharmacist with dispensing right will be a win-win situation for all of us.