United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Program Evaluation and Methodology Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-08-24 monographic deposited born digital 142 p. GA 1.13:PEMD-95-12 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12 P0b002ee18037423a f:pe95012 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12 PEMD-95-12 Pharmaceutical industry Drugs Sales Controlled substances Comparative analysis Medical records Foreign governments Cost analysis Information dissemination operations European Union Australia Canada Denmark France Germany Italy Netherlands Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Medicaid Program Florida California Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Oregon Washington Chapter Report PEMD The drug classification system in the United States, under which drug are classified as eight prescription or nonprescription, is unique. Other countries have a class of drugs that is available without a prescription but can be obtained only at a pharmacy and sometimes can be dispensed only by a pharmacist. This report reviews the drug distribution systems in 10 countries and the European Union. GAO also reviews the practice of pharmacy focusing on pharmacists counseling of patients on the use of non prescription drugs. GAO found that little evidence exists to support the establishment of a pharmacy or a pharmacist class of drugs in the United States at this time, either as a fixed or a transition class. Available evidence tends to undermine the argument that countries with such a class obtain major benefits. This report discusses in detail the facts supporting this conclusion. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12/html/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12/pdf/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12.pdf GAO/PEMD-95-12 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-95-12 Chapter Report GAO/PEMD-95-12; Nonprescription Drugs: Value of a Pharmacist-Controlled Class Has Yet to Be Demonstrated; Pharmaceutical industry Drugs Sales Controlled substances Comparative analysis Medical records Foreign governments Cost analysis Information dissemination operations European Union Australia Canada Denmark France Germany Italy Netherlands Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Medicaid Program Florida California Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Mexico North Dakota South Dakota Oregon Washington Public Law 91-513