Final answer:
The FDA is in charge of enforcing laws related to medicine safety and efficacy, while specific discipline of pharmacists falls under State Boards of Pharmacy. Regulations ensure public safety but can also delay drug availability and impose high costs on pharmaceutical companies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The agency responsible for overseeing the discipline of pharmacists is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA ensures public health by enforcing food and drug laws, providing essential services, and regulating the medicines that pharmacies are allowed to sell. It has been empowered by the United States Congress to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which includes provisions related to the regulation of pharmaceuticals and the practice of pharmacy. Moreover, the FDA's Office of Prescription Drug Promotion monitors and regulates prescription drug advertisements. While the FDA regulates the safety and efficacy of medicines, State Boards of Pharmacy have the authority to issue and revoke pharmacist licenses and are directly responsible for disciplining pharmacists.
These regulations imposed by the FDA can take years for a pharmaceutical company to navigate before a drug is approved for the market. The beneficiaries of these regulations are the public who are shielded from potentially unsafe drugs. However, there are also those who may be considered losers in this scenario, such as patients who may have to wait longer for access to potentially life-saving medications due to the lengthy approval process and companies that bear the high costs of regulation compliance.