Why should resolution take so long?

摘要

I write regarding the News item "Decriminalisation of dispensing errors will take two to three years, says DoH" (PJ, 2 February 2013, p98). Keith Ridge, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, states the issue would be a priority for the newly formed pharmacy programme board. How far up the agenda is it then? This is a long-running saga and three years is far too long. No pharmacist should ever be prosecuted for a genuine dispensing error and we should be calling for a speedier resolution to this. It makes me wonder if this issue would have a damaging effect not only on the current workforce but also on students.