Nonprescription drugs : considerations regarding a behind-the-counter drug class : report to congressional requesters.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Drugs, Nonprescription.

Drugs, Nonprescription--Government policy--United States.

Drugs, Nonprescription--Government policy.

United States.

Pharmaceutical policy--United States.

Pharmaceutical policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 54 pages, digital, PDF file)

Other Title:

Nonprescription drugs : considerations regarding a behind the counter drug class

Considerations regarding a behind-the-counter drug class

Behind-the-counter drug class

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

In the United States, most nonprescription drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies and other stores. Experts have suggested that drug availability could be increased by establishing an additional class of nonprescription drugs that would be held behind the counter (BTC) but would require the intervention of a pharmacist before being dispensed; a similar class of drugs exists in many other countries. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not developed a detailed proposal for a BTC drug class, it held a public meeting in 2007 to explore the public health implications of BTC drug availability. GAO was asked to update its 1995 report, Nonprescription Drugs: Value of a Pharmacist-Controlled Class Has Yet to Be Demonstrated (GAO/PEMD-95-12). Specifically, GAO is reporting on (1) arguments supporting and opposing a U.S. BTC drug class, (2) changes in drug availability in five countries since 1995 and the impact of restricted nonprescription classes on availability, and (3) issues important to the establishment of a BTC drug class. GAO reviewed documents and consulted with pharmaceutical experts. To examine drug availability across countries, GAO studied five countries it had reported on in 1995 (Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and determined how 86 drugs available in all five countries were classified in each country.

Notes:

Record is based on bibliographic data in ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Reuse except for individual research requires license from ProQuest, LLC.

Includes bibliographical references.

Electronic reproduction. [Bethesda, Md.] : ProQuest, 2004. digital, PDF file. ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Mode of access: World Wide Web via ProQuest website.

Other Format:

Print version: United States. Government Accountability Office. Nonprescription drugs

Microfiche version: United States. Government Accountability Office. Nonprescription drugs. CIS 2009 J942-194

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.