US | FDA FDA May Ease Rx Drug Sales Agency considers 'behind-the-counter' drug sales by pharmacists By Peter Fearon Posted Oct 4, 2007 5:55 AM CDT Copied Customers arrive and depart a CVS location, in Plymouth, Mass., Tuesday, May 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Associated Press) The federal Food and Drug Administration may allow more drugs to be sold by pharmacists without a prescription if they are kept behind the counter off display shelves. The FDA announced a hearing next month to explore the "public health benefit of drugs being available without a prescription but only after intervention by a pharmacist," reports the Wall Street Journal. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and several European countries already have a similar status for some drugs, including certain contraceptives and some drugs that lower cholesterol. Pharmacists determine if a patient meets criteria to obtain a certain drug and instructs consumers on proper use. Read These Next Merchants could slap new surcharges on certain credit card purchases. Warren Buffett is changing how he's distributing his vast wealth. Students hit with felony charges over a giant anti-TPUSA insect. DNA break leads to arrest in 1994 Seattle cold case. Report an error