Key Benefits of Physician Dispensing

The most significant advantage of physician dispensing is that it ensures that prescribed medications reach the patient's hands. An estimated 20-30 percent of prescriptions are never filled. This problem is eliminated by providing medication at the point of care.

Fremont, CA: People often think of doctors as primary care providers, but doctors can do much more than just diagnose patients as well as recommend a course of action. Physicians and other medical practitioners may also dispense prescription drugs straight to patients from their clinic or office in most states, a practice known as physician dispensing or in-office dispensing.

This practice differs from the traditional model of pharmacy dispensing, in which patients bring a prescription written by their doctor to a pharmacy to be filled. While State Boards of Pharmacy impose varying levels of restrictions and regulations on physician dispensing, the practice as a whole is somewhat contentious. This article examines and analyses common arguments advanced by supporters and opponents of in-office dispensing. Mentioned below are key advantages of physician dispensing:

Improved Patient Compliance

The most significant advantage of physician dispensing is that it ensures that prescribed medications reach the patient's hands. An estimated 20-30 percent of prescriptions are never filled. 

This problem is eliminated by providing medication at the point of care.

Having said that, it does not necessarily follow that these 20-30 percent of prescriptions would be followed properly if only the medications were given to patients. According to a World Health Organization study, 50 percent of prescriptions are not properly followed by patients (including the 20-30 percent that are not filled) due to factors such as limited language proficiency, patient forgetfulness, lack of health literacy, or lack of belief in medication. Although there is an unfortunate lack of research in this area, it could be argued that patients who do not have their prescriptions filled are less likely to comply with instructions even if they do have them filled.

Patient Privacy

According to physician dispensing companies, in-office dispensing provides more patient privacy and confidentiality because a doctor's office is generally more private than a pharmacy. While this may be true in some pharmacies, it appears that most pharmacists take patient privacy seriously and have structured their operations accordingly. Patient privacy when picking up prescriptions is rarely mentioned as a major health care concern.