Pertaining only to the US and with respect to treating homo sapiens (not experimental and or in any research phases), certain aspects of your article needs clarification:
1) There are three types of physician who can Rx meds. The first physican type is an MD or a DO. The second physican type is a DDS or DMD. And finally, the third type is a DPM
2) Most pharmacology doctorate program have adopted the 6 yrs. schedule. During these six yrs training, you can choose an area of concentration ranging from research, hospital pharmacology and or retail pharmacology.
3) The FDA , in theory, is supposed to regulate all food and drugs aspect in the US. Unfortunately, many board/panel members are influenced by big drug companies' lobbyists and political croonies. Certain drugs, ie. ASA, have been grandfathered in and will not undergo these same strenuous approval procedures for morbidity, mortality and or efficacy. While other approved drugs, ie. Celebrex & Darvocet, will be periodically withdraw from the market (and then later to only reappear) due to abuse potential and illegal/recreational drug habits/usage. However, once approved, any drug and many are used off label - meaning the drug is used for another purpose instead of the primary purpose it was approved for. A good, but morbid, example are the meds (a phenobarbital - to cause unconscious, Pancuronium bromide - a paralytic agent, and Potassium chloride - cause a massive MI) used in lethal injections, when given in mega dose.
4) Though technically they aren't making new drug, a pharmacist can compound the drug for you.
5) There are basically two types of nurses. An RN, which requires 4 yrs. of nursing school, comes out w/ a BS degree and a LVN, which only requires 2 yrs. at the allied school level, usually a community college or an 18-24 months program. A starting RN pays approx. 65K annually vs only 26K for LVN. RN can further their education by going to school for another 2-3 yrs or so depending on the Master certification specialty in order to practice medicine (certified nurse practitioner & pay is approx. 80-90K starting) and or anesthesiology (certified nurse anesthetist & pay is approx 110-120K starting). Generally, all nurses practice under the physician supervision w/ exception in certain state w/ chronic physician shortage and or as regulated by their state's license bylaws.
6) The FDA does regulate dietary supplements w/ only in the content of dietary claims. Now and then, they will ban certain harmful and or abusive natural components in these supplements. Ephedra , was banned by the FDA in early 2000 if my memory is correct, is a good example.
7) All drugs, does not matter if it is natural or man made, have an effect on the human tissue. The effective degree is dosage dependent, competitive inhibition and etc .. when all things are consider. A Drug is a Poison - it just depends upon the duration and dosage.
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