TY - JOUR T1 - Dispensing by the community pharmacist: an unstoppable decline? JF - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO - J R Coll Gen Pract SP - 563 LP - 564 VL - 38 IS - 317 AU - David Roberts Y1 - 1988/12/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/38/317/563.abstract N2 - After posing the question `Is your chemist really necessary?' this article demonstrates that the original role of the retail chemist - the preparation and safe dispensing of medicines - has become eroded. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed new community roles are currently being carried out by other members of the primary care team. Finally, it is argued that the retail pharmacist may not give value for money and that doctor dispensing is a less expensive and safer alternative. ER -