Minerals and salts were often mixed into them along with honey to make the medicine taste good. In those days Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing was an unthinkable concept. With the development of medical science and more inventions taken up by the research and development wing of the Pharmaceutical Companies, Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing became imperative. Today many governments across the world have made it necessary that Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing be carried out strictly. One of the major benefits of such a rule is that no doctor can ever enjoy an uncontested monopoly with Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing. Previously many doctors took undue advantage of the integrated law and manufactured medicines in such a way that a patient would get addicted to the medicine. This as a result would bring back the patient to the doctor more often than usual. Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing created a havoc in those countries where the doctors enjoyed such practices with glee.
With the increase of global economy and marketing dynamics many world famous industrialists started investing heavily in the medicines. The two world wars increased the importance of life saving drugs in a major way. The discovery of such drugs like insulin, penicillin and other diseases have also made it necessary that prescription of medicines be separated from dispensing the medicines. With the method becoming more transparent, today most of the Pharmaceutical companies enjoy the license of distributing and dispensing the medicines in the market. The patent of the medicine lies with those Pharmaceutical Companies whose laboratories were used in the discovery of the drug. Many of the developed countries have made it essential that the medical practitioners and Pharmaceutical Companies work together under the same roof. However, both the wings under such circumstances enjoy separate licenses.
However, one major problem that irks World Health Organization as well as many governments is the illicit nexus between the doctors and the Pharmaceutical Companies. It has often been seen that irresponsible doctors often prescribe medicines from one particular Pharmaceutical Company alone. Undoubtedly the Pharmaceutical company offers some commission to those doctors who are prescribe their products. Such practices must be closed down at any cost! Greater awareness on the part of the people and more commitment from the doctors towards their profession alone can bring about a healthy solution to the problem. With Separation of Prescribing From Dispensing only a segment of the tall task has been achieved but majority of the work remains incomplete.
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