Valid, Ongoing Patient-Prescriber Relationships (Resolution No. 103-2-07)

May 22, 2007 1:41 AM Topics: Resolutions

Resolution Number: 103-2-07
Title: Valid, Ongoing Patient-Prescriber Relationships
Action: Passed
 

Whereas, rogue Internet pharmacies and Web sites, defined by NABP as those entities that distribute prescription drugs in violation of state and federal laws, allow consumers to obtain prescription drugs using Internet-based, electronic questionnaires or cyberspace consultations without an examination by a physician or other legally qualified health care professional, adversely impacting the public health, safety and welfare, and contributing to the diversion of controlled substances; and

Whereas, some legitimate pharmacies are collaborating with rogue Internet pharmacies and Web sites to dispense prescription drugs based solely on Internet-based, electronic questionnaires or cyberspace consultations, which do not constitute a valid ongoing patient-prescriber relationship or result in the issuance of a valid prescription; and

Whereas, standards of practice, which are enforceable by boards of pharmacy through administrative proceedings, require pharmacists to assess the validity of a prescription using several factors, including professional judgment, prior to dispensing medications;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NABP work with the Federation of State Medical Boards, the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and other interested stakeholders to assess and revise, if necessary, the Model State Pharmacy Act and Model Rules of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (Model Act) to explicitly prohibit the dispensing of medications based on prescriptions generated solely from Internet-based, electronic questionnaires or cyberspace consultations or invalid patient-prescriber relationships; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NABP encourage all boards of pharmacy to review their existing laws, regulations, and policies and, if necessary, update their regulations to reflect the amended Model Act and/or communicate such concerns to the state legislature to ultimately ensure quality patient care.

(Resolution passed at the NABP 103rd Annual Meeting, Portland, OR)