DISPENSING BY NONPHARMACISTS AND NONPRESCRIBERS

To reaffirm the position that to ensure optimal patient outcomes all medication dispensing functions must be performed by, or under the supervision of, a pharmacist; further, 

To reaffirm the position that any relationships that are established between a pharmacist and other individuals in order to carry out the dispensing function should preserve the role of the pharmacist in (a) maintaining appropriate patient safety, (b) complying with regulatory and legal requirements, and (c) providing individualized patient care; further, 

To advocate that all medication dispensing, regardless of setting, be held to the same regulatory standards that apply to dispensing by a pharmacist; further,

To urge pharmacists to assume a leadership role in medication dispensing in all settings to ensure adherence to best practices.

Rationale

The Council recognizes the reality of limited pharmacist availability and lack of comprehensive pharmacy services in many settings, including public health clinics, rural and urban outreach clinics, and hospital emergency departments.  However, the Council believes that responsibility and services of pharmacists are critical to safe medication use and that all dispensing, regardless of setting, should meet the same standards that apply to pharmacies and pharmacists.  The Council believes that the current ASHP Minimum Standard for Pharmaceutical Services in Ambulatory Care is explicit and pertinent to the practice of dispensing by nonpharmacists and nonprescribers. The Council also noted that this type of drug delivery and dispensing arrangement does not constitute collaborative drug therapy management as defined in ASHP policy 9903.