A discussion forum on whether and how pharmacists could become, or take on the roles of, general medical practitioners has been started on the Prime Minister's internet website.
Members of the public can post messages on the website in a section called "speaker's corner". The website says that all postings are read by Downing Street staff.
On June 27, Mr Gordon Mackenzie, MRPharmS, suggested that pharmacists should be allowed to study for, and take, relevant GP and Royal college examinations and that they could do as good a job as an average GP.
Commenting on that, a Mr Bill Kent said that there was nothing to stop pharmacists retraining, but that it was clear that pharmacists were "nowhere near being doctors at present".
Mr Mackenzie responded that university modules could be offered to make up any deficits in pharmacists' training. They were already trained in pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, clinical pharmacy and a host of medical subjects.
"If appropriate courses were supplied to pharmacists who wanted to update their qualifications to become GPs, I believe that the level of health care in this country would be enormously benefited at a very realistic cost," Mr Mackenzie said.