The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) is responsible for advising on the appropriate therapeutic use of drugs in a hospital. The PTC frames policies, evaluates drugs for the hospital formulary, ensures drug safety, monitors adverse drug reactions, reports product defects, develops emergency drug lists, and conducts drug utilization reviews. It is composed of at least three physicians, a pharmacist who serves as secretary, a nurse, and a hospital administrator. The PTC meets at least six times per year to review these responsibilities and ensure proper drug use in the hospital.
2. Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
• Definition: Pharmacy and therapeutics committee is a
body which frames the policies and advises the medical
staff and hospital administration on matters relating to
the therapeutic use of drugs
3. Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
Objectives:
1) Advisory
2) Educational
3) Drug safety and adverse drug monitoring
4. Objectives of PTC
1) Advisory
• PTC formulates professional policies regarding
evaluation, selection and therapeutic use of drugs in the
hospital
• PTC advises medical staff and hospital administration
regarding use of drugs and implementation of drug
distribution and control procedures
5. Objectives of PTC
2)Educational
• The committee recommends or assists in the formulation of
programs to meet the need of professional staff for the
complete current knowledge on matters related to drugs
and drug use
• Develops and compiles hospital formulary
6. Objectives of PTC
3)Drug safety and adverse drug monitoring
• Committee ensures safety in handling and
administration of new class of therapeutic drugs
• It reviews adverse drug reactions occurring in the
hospitals and takes necessary measures
7. Composition of PTC
Members of PTC-
1) Atleast three physicians (One is Chairman)
2) A pharmacist (Secretary)
3) A nursing staff
4) An hospital administrator
8. Operation of PTC
Operation of PTC-
• The pharmacist (Secretary) organises meetings,
prepares and distributes agenda of meeting and
prepares minutes of meeting
• He also assists chairman in implementation of
committee decisions
• The meetings of the committee should be organised
atleast six times in a year
9. Functions and Scope of PTC
1) Drug Selection
2) Drug Safety
3) Adverse Drug Reaction
4) Drug Product Defect Reporting
5) Development of Emergency Drug List
6) Drug Utilisation Review
10. Functions and Scope
1)Drug selection
• The drugs to be used in the hospital are evaluated and
approved by PTC
• These drugs are categorised as-Formulary drugs,
Conditionally approved drugs, Investigational drugs
• Selection of generic and branded drugs
11. Functions and Scope
2)Drug safety
• Employing registered and qualified pharmacist to
dispense drugs
• Providing safe working space, facilities and equipments
• Automatic stop orders for dangerous drugs
• Use of research drugs in hospitals
12. Functions and Scope
• Hospital formulary should be revised and kept up-to-
date
• GMP and quality control should be followed during
manufacturing
• Poisonous materials should be separated from non-
poisonous materials in the wards
• Familiarize nursing staff with new drugs
13. Functions and Scope
3)Adverse drug reaction monitoring
• Adverse reactions should be reported promptly
• PTC prepares Adverse Drug Reaction Report forms which are
made available in all wards
• Attending physician fills the form and reports to chairman of
PTC
• It is then discussed in PTC meeting
14. Functions and Scope
4)Drug Product Defect Reporting
• Drugs purchased by the hospital may be defective in
quality
• Defects include-inadequate labels, deteriorated
product, inadequate package,etc.
• PTC gets information from pharmacist on drug defects
and fills Drug Defect Report forms
• PTC first informs manufacturer- no action- sends this
form to FDA
15. Functions and Scope
5)Developing Emergency Drug lists
• In case of emergency situations, PTC prepares boxes that
contain emergency drugs and supplies
• Contents of such boxes decided by PTC
• These boxes are made available at bed-side and in
emergency wards
• These boxes are checked daily by hospital pharmacist or
nursing supervisor of the ward
16. Functions and Scope
6)Drug Utilization Review
• Drug utilization review (DUR) is defined as an authorized,
structured, ongoing review of prescribing, dispensing and use of
medication.
• DUR encompasses a drug review against predetermined criteria
that results in changes to drug therapy when these criteria are
not met.
• Hospital pharmacist should take patient medication history
• Patient medication profile to be maintained for each patient