Who Should Give out Prescriptions:
Doctors or Pharmacists?

There is a great debate going on nowadays about who knows more about Canadian prescriptions: doctors or pharmacists. It’s a growing battle that has sprung an array of discussion about whether pharmacists should be allowed to actually prescribe patients with pills or not. This would of course increase the power that the pharmacists have, but the question is whether or not this is a wise move. Who should hold this responsibility then? Let’s take a closer look at each side of the story to find out.

One of the biggest arguments supporting pharmacists giving out Canadian prescriptions is that they know the drugs better than the doctors. They are more aware of the potential side effects and what drugs do not interact well together. They can spout off drug facts from the top of their heads without question, which is more than a lot of doctors can say when it comes to certain drugs. A pharmacist has a broader knowledge of prescription medications, and he or she can easily advise patients on proper dosing and the like. It seems rather logical that a licensed pharmacist would make the perfect person to give out prescriptions.

The problem isn’t with the pharmacist’s knowledge of the drugs though. What matters is their lack of knowledge with the patients. Doctors are paid to know the ins and outs of human anatomy. They must study how certain conditions are formed and what events may lead to problems in the future. They have to know the people and be able to find a drug that corresponds to the needs of them. Pharmacists don’t have that diagnostic ability. They can only see the symptoms and prescribe a solution. They can’t look into underlying factors or determine if some part of a person’s medical history will be problematic with Canadian prescriptions.

In short, pharmacists know about the technical side of Canadian prescriptions, but they don’t know about the other factors involved. It’s the facts in the minds of pharmacists that doctors are responsible for putting into action. Thus it may not be a wise idea for someone to permit pharmacists to prescribe medications, but that doesn’t mean that doctors shouldn’t consult with pharmacists about certain patients. In fact, it could be the combination of these two minds that would provide the perfect solution for people. Perhaps working together will be the best compromise of all.