Some naysayers from the drug industry are strenuously objecting to a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) proposal that could make more
prescription-only drugs — such as those to treat asthma, migraines, high blood
pressure and elevated cholesterol — more accessible without having to schedule
a doctors appointment. “Medicine needs to take medical care to where the
patients are,” Janet Woodcock, Director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research, testified at a hearing in March. See
Internal
Medicine News.
The hearing, however,
produced mostly special-interest pleadings, e.g. doctors’ groups, pharmacists,
drugstore chains, pharmaceutical companies. There was not much input from the
public. Increased access to over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that currently require
a costly visit to a physician office to get a prescription can provide a lot of
potential cost savings and health benefits to patients. Obviously, caution must
be exercised as rules are loosened, but the rules seem to be overly restrictive
and weighted in favor of those currently authorized to dispense drugs.
I
know I have found it extremely irritating to make an appointment and take time
off work to simply get a prescription renewed. Many drugs that require prescriptions
here in the U.S. are sold over the counter in other countries. Some changes are
in order. Especially since today's consumers
can freely access trusted information online about drugs they need, e.g. Medline Plus.
What do
you think? I'm looking primarily for input from consumers, rather than drug
companies.
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