Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8392

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Hildebrand N.
Physician and pharmacist: competing or essentially complementing?
Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung 1984 Aug 9; 124:1573-1576

Abstract:

A discussion on the problems of communication and cooperation between the physician and the pharmacist in providing patient care services is presented and recommendations for improving relations between the 2 professions are described. The causes of the deficiencies on the part of the physician include inadequate training of physicians in pharmacology and in optimal drug therapy, dependence on the pharmaceutical industry for drug information and the financing of continuing education, and lack of awareness of the costs of rational drug therapy. On the part of the pharmacist, there is a commercial dependence on the prescribing physicians, lack of competence and self-confidence as drug advisor for the doctor, due to improper training. Overcoming the deficiencies is believed to enhance the potential for collaboration between the 2 professions.