Doctors strongly against prescription of medicines by pharmacists

This sounds remarkably similar to what we have heard in Canada...

From the Times of Malta:
The Medical Association has strongly criticised a declaration by the Minister of Health than pharmacists could soon be given the power to prescribe certain medicines.

Speaking during the opening of a symposium, Dr Cassar said prescribing pharmacists existed in other countries. In fact, in May 2006 British nurses and pharmacists who had undergone the appropriate training were able to prescribe medicines.

The doctors' union said however that the Medicines Act prevents medical practitioners from dispensing medicine, thus protecting patients from a potential conflict of interest between the prescriber and the dispenser who profits from the sale of medicines.

"The Medical Association of Malta is surprised and disappointed that the Health Ministry is considering abandoning the ethical principles in the prescription of medicines. Patients have the right to be diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner before a medicine can be prescribed. This is a basic tenet of patient safety," the MAM said. ...more