Ah...Psychiatrist
This is the part I find troubling.
SMC says GPs not allowed to prescribe more than 14 days supply. But psychiatrists can prescribe as much as they want.
It shows that SMC does not trust GPs. If the issue is conflict of interest eg GP pockets money from sale of medicine then that applies to other drugs as well not just sleeping pills. And psychiatrists do earn the same way.
If the issue is lack of training then they should train GPs better. Having double standards doesnt help.
In singapore I had patients tell me as a GP that there is no difference between going to see the GP and going to see the psychiatrist when it comes to sleeping pills. The psychiatrist will just prescribe as much and as long a duration. It just costs much more at psychiatrist than GP.
I had to explain and show all the newspaper articles to tell him I could not prescribe the sleeping pills.