GPs believe collaboration with local pharmacists will be important for developing successful commissioning strategies, a survey suggests.
An online survey of 200 GPs by Kantar Health found 69% thought collaboration with pharmacists would help commissioning succeed.
Half of GPs (51%) thought pharmacists could help identify gaps in patient care and service provision.
In addition, 80% said pharmacists could provide advice on prescribing costs and assess the cost impact of medicines management.
But the survey, carried out in September 2010 and funded by Pfizer, revealed GPs continue to have concerns about pharmacists taking on extended roles.
Half of GPs (49%) said monitoring should be done by themselves or a practice nurse, rather than a pharmacist.
In addition, 32% of GPs think pharmacists are working beyond their competencies, and 29% think they are more concerned with profits than patient outcomes.