To support, in principle, prescribing by pharmacists; further,
To cooperate with health professions and regulatory bodies to define circumstances necessary to assure full benefits to the public health relative to such activity.
Rationale
This policy position was developed before preparation of a policy rationale became routine, so no rationale is available.
Background
A resolution from the House of Delegates calling for ASHP to support the principle of pharmacists’ prescribing was referred to the Council for study. The Council recognized that the topic was complex and controversial. Reasons for and against official support of pharmacists’ prescribing were considered at length. The Council was supportive of pharmacists’ prescribing if: (1) they were qualified to do so by virtue of knowledge, training, and experience; (2) the prescribing was done under carefully spelled-out conditions such as under physician-aproved treatment protocols; and (3) it was done in an organized setting (e.g., hospital, clinic, HMO).
