Ditto to rant!
"Prescriptions" should be recommndations, and you should not need them. Many of our prescription drugs are otc (over-the-counter) in Canada and part of Europe. Don't see their populations dropping like flies.
I'm not sure I'd go that far because of the problem of addiction. Addiction can be considered a market failure. The drug causes people to make a different choice than they otherwise would have made.
When I was recovering from surgery last year, I was glad to have a physician who managed my pain medication. He first gave me strong stuff. He then gave me prescriptions for weaker and weaker stuff. I realized how easy it would have been to get hooked if my physician wasn't being careful. Given how many people get addicted to painkillers now, how many more would get addicted if we didn't have any controls?
The solution is not to get rid of the prescription system, but to make it a lot more flexible. People should be able to make their own choices about risk versus reward. If people want to get something that hasn't gone through all phases of testing, they should be allowed to take that chance.
When my wife got here (originally from Russia) she was amazed at how many drugs were restricted that were over the counter for her back home.
Ditto that.
"Many of our prescription drugs are otc (over-the-counter) in Canada and part of Europe. Don't see their populations dropping like flies."
It's really a concern to maintain and further the professional monopoly. It's an income thing and a jobs program for ninnies.