ABSTRACT
The subject of dispensing by doctors has long been a bone of contention between the medical and pharmaceutical professions. Whilst in many practices the doctors themselves will undertake a large proportion of the dispensing, most group practices in rural areas will wish to employ at least one dispenser. Staff with dispensing experience can often be recruited from community or hospital pharmacies, and they may already possess a nationally-recognized qualification as a pharmacy technician. Dispensing doctors are responsible for collecting prescription fees from those patients who are eligible to pay them. Many patients will return their unwanted medicines to the doctor's dispensary for safe disposal. In addition, the dispensary staff may, from time to time, find that some stocks have run out of date and have to be disposed of. Dispensing doctors will be responsible for supplying drug information cards and for ensuring patients understand any special warnings in relation to a particular product.
