Should pharmacists be able to renew prescriptions without a doctor?

[CBC News]

Pharmacists in B.C. will have the ability to renew prescriptions, alter dosages and dispense substitute drugs without the oversight of a doctor beginning in January.
The province is following Alberta's lead, which started the practice last year as a way to increase access to medication despite the shortage of doctors.
Soon afterward, the B.C. Pharmacy Association began lobbying the provincial government to institute a similar system in B.C. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Health Minister George Abbott stressed that in B.C. the pharmacists' new power applies to routine renewal of prescriptions for conditions such as high blood pressure that don't require people to see a doctor each time.
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Should pharmacists be able to renew and alter prescriptions without a doctor?Are their risks to patients? How will this lighten the load of our medical system?


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[lone wolf]

Due to oversights and niggardly practices at both federal and provincial levels, I find myself without doctor but with heart and intestinal distress and chronic pains. Clinic doctors don't know me from Adam, can't monitor any treatment they may recommend and can't prescribe narcotics. Specialists (who have to be referred by a clinic doctor who doesn't know me) are concerned only with their specialty. What their treatments may affect beyond their own fields doesn't seem to be a problem to them. The pharmacist where I do my monthly business knows me better than any doctor around here. Needless to say ... I really HATE hearing about how our health care system has improved....

 

[Unforgiven]

I would like to see this happen in Ontario for simple repeats for chronic ailments. I have reflux, Barrett's Esophagus and need to have a proton pump depressor. I usually have to make an appointment to see my doctor or wait a good 45 to a hour just to take the two minutes to get the prescription. I see that as tying up system resources needlessly.

Narcotics and things like antidepressants, tranqs and such should not fall under that as you should be supervised with these drugs and that means a doctor should be talking to you along with a specialist.

 

[darkbeaver]

We should be able to buy drugs over the counter whenever we want them. It's nobodys business what we swallow.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I seem to remember watching a news story recently on the CBC (yes I vote conservative
but I still watch CBC) about Pharmacists in BC (I believe it was Vancouver) with open air
pharmacies (armored like a cross between a Money Mart and a New York Cab) that where
actually paying the Junkies to use their stores, and would pay the Junkies more if they where
able to talk their Doctors into prescribing DAILY doses of Methadone instead of weekly, as
Pharmacists gets paid per prescription filled, so DAILY vs. WEEKLY means seven times the
fee's...I can see where this change in legislation will be immediately abused, at least in these
storefront pharmacies in Vancouver.

The CBC had a Junkie (with a hidden camera) go in and get his methadone, and try to bargain his
$5 cash payment up to $10...but he only left with a $5. The other Junkies out front laughed at him
'cuz most of them got a $10 cash payment as they'd convinced their Doctors to switch them to
DAILY prescriptions. The Crack Dealers would sell a rock of Crack to the Junkies for the $10 bill
right in front of the pharmacy so the cash would only be in their hands for about 15 seconds.

Strange that BC is the province piloting this program. Maybe they don't watch the CBC. Here's a
link: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/09/07/bc-prescription-for-profit.html
If you hunt around a bit, you can most likely find the video. It was an eye opener....now
the Pharmacist can switch the prescription to DAILY himself.

 

[TenPenny]

No, they shouldn't.

But, I guess, since it's going to happen, you'll be able to sue the pharmacist when you have a heart attack that they didn't know about. After all, if they're able to renew prescriptions, they'll be taking responsibility for your health. The doctors will wash their hands of your health issues. So really, it's only a win win for the doctor, less work, and less responsibility.