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 Rudy Giuliani has 'some healing to do.' Something weird is happening in the Gulf of Panama. Amazon Prime members, you may not be happy with this news. A House panel has released a batch of Epstein files. Report an error