FDA Hears Pros, Cons of Pharmacist-to-Patient ...(of dispensing medicine Cranston said. M...),Health

Dr. Daniel A. Hussar, Remington professor of pharmacy at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia's College of Pharmacy, expressed support for the proposal.

"The involvement of the pharmacist in counseling patients will be of great value in assuring the effective and safe use of these medications," Hussar said in a prepared statement. "Also, this role will enhance the recognition of pharmacists as sources of useful information regarding other medications and health-care issues."

Hussar said he has developed a list of medications he believes could be made available BTC. This list includes: varenicline (Chantix), a smoking-cessation drug; epinephrine, used to treat serious allergic reactions; oseltamivir (Tamiflu), for influenza infection; and statins, for high cholesterol.

However, one doctor believes pharmacists aren't qualified to sell medications, particularly statins.

"What is going to be provided to the pharmacists to give the appropriate dose of the appropriate statin and what criteria is going to be followed," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, co-director of the New York University Medical Center lipid treatment program, who was not at the hearing. "Unless the pharmacist is empowered to order blood tests and interpret them, they will not be able to prescribe the correct drug at the right dose."

Variations of behind-the-counter drug sales already exist in other countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, according to the FDA.

The medications that these countries allow to be sold by pharmacists without a prescription
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