Paul Galloway wrote to Graham Ross:
>Managing the patient in primary care is often (I would hope usually) a
>positive descision based on the best interests of the patient. 'Normal'
>depression should be treated in primary care, it is not a fudge, a fob
>off or a second best option based on costs, but the best available care
>giving the best results. This is because we have greater experience and
>expertise.
Agreed!
Our drug funders have finally come around to the same realisation - that
you can't keep the SSRI's out of the hands of "ordinary" doctors (GP's).
We are finally being allowed to prescribe these on Government subsidy from
the end of this week.
On the whole it is very likely that these will be used wisely and
appropriately.
We no longer will have to refer a patient to an unavailable psychiatrist to
get a script for Prozac!
The main reason it has taken so long is so our drug funding agency
(Pharmac) could screw a risk-free deal out of Lilly. It's got nothing to do
with risks of treatment or expertise at all !!
Jon Wilcox Auckland, NZ
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