We read with interest the article by Doherty et al¹ in which they lament the suboptimal care of patients with gout, as the majority are managed by non-specialists. In 2005, we had surveyed non-rheumatologists on their practices regarding the management of gout.² Of the 128 respondents, 52.3% were general practitioners (GPs). A significant proportion of respondents were treating gout suboptimally; 50% would stop allopurinol during an acute attack, once allopurinol was started, only 54.7% would continue indefinitely and 15% would treat asymptomatic hyperuricaemia. As a result of this, in October 2008, the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology and Ministry of Health, …