For at least the fourth time, federal regulators are considering whether pharmacists should be allowed to regularly dispense medications without a doctor's prescription.
Three times since the 1970s, the FDA has rejected the idea of adding a new "behind the counter" class of drugs to existing prescription-only and over-the-counter medication, which can be bought with no professional supervision.
But the new class is once again on the FDA's docket, spurred in part by big drug companies looking for a new way to sell prescription products that the agency has rejected for nonprescription sales.
Agency officials said they're evaluating how -- or if -- to proceed on a new "BTC" class of drugs that patients could access without doctors' orders but only with screening from pharmacy personnel.
"We haven't decided what the next steps might be," said Randall Lutter, MD, FDA's deputy commissioner for policy.
Several countries, including Canada and the U.K., have "behind-the-counter" drug classes. The idea is to give consumers easier access to medications deemed safe enough that they do not require close supervision by a doctor.
In public hearings Wednesday, several groups told officials that moving some prescription medications to "behind-the-counter" status would cut medication costs and save money on doctor visits.
"If we get this right, it will be good for the health care system as well," said Stephen Giroux, president of the National Community Pharmacists Association, a group representing independent pharmacy operators.
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