The document outlines the roles and functions of a Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) in a hospital. The DTC advises on drug-related issues, develops drug policies, evaluates drugs for inclusion in the hospital formulary, promotes rational drug use, manages adverse drug reactions, and monitors drug safety. It is composed of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and administrators. The DTC meets regularly to assess drug use, identify issues, and conduct interventions to improve prescribing and reduce costs while maintaining patient safety.

1. THE DRUG AND THERAPEUTICS
COMMITTEE
SUBMITTED BY:
Dr Aniket Desai
S.Devi Prasad Yadav
Indrani B
Jisa Anna M
Manisha Raturi

2. INTRODUCTION
 Many countries will spend 30 to 40 percent of their health
care budgets on drugs and much of that money is wasted
on irrational drug use and inefficiencies in procurement of
drugs.
 Other serious problems that health care organizations face
are the over use of antibiotics, increasing antimicrobial
resistance, increasing adverse drug reactions, and
considerably higher costs associated with drug use
 DTCs can provide the leadership and structure to select
appropriate drugs for the formulary, promote rational drug
use, and help reduce drug costs to acceptable level.

3. The pharmacy and therapeutics committee is a
policy faming and recommending body to the
medical staff and the administration of hospital
on matters related to therapeutic use of drugs.

4. OBJECTIVE
 The pharmacy and therapeutics have three major roles to
play. These are:
 ADVISORY
 EDUCATIONAL
 DRUG SAFETY AND ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS
MONITIORING

5. FUNCTIONS
 Advising medical, administrative, and pharmacy
departments on drug related issues ·
 Developing drug policies and procedures ·
 Evaluating and selecting drugs for the formulary and
providing for its periodic revision ·
 Assessing drug use to identify potential problems ·
 Promoting and conducting effective interventions to
improve drug use (including educational, managerial, and
regulatory methods) ·
 Managing adverse drug reactions
 Managing medication error

6. COMPOSITION
 Composition of pharmacy and therapeutics committee
(PTC) might vary from hospital to hospital.
 The PTC may be composed of:
 At least three physicians from the medical staff
 A pharmacist
 A representative of the nursing staff
 An hospital administrator with his/her designated an
ex‐officio member of the committee one of the physicians
may be appointed as the chairman of PTC.
 MEDICAL STAFF
 HOSPITAL PHARMACIST
CHAIRMAN
ADMINISTRATORS
DIRECTOR

7. OPERATION OF PHARMACY AND
THERAPEUTICS COMMITTEE
This committee should meet regularly at least six times in
an year and also when necessary.
 The agenda and the supplementary materials should be
prepared by the secretary and furnished to the committee
members well in advance so that the members can study
them properly before meeting

8. ROLE OF PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTICS
COMMITTEE (PTC) IN DRUG SAFETY
 Drug safety is the moral, legal and professional obligation of
pharmacist.
 It includes responsibility from dispensing of drugs to drug
administration.
 Following guidelines may sub serve the committee in
ascertaining the adequate safety factor of hospital pharmacy:
The hospital must employ a qualified, at least, a registered
pharmacist with at least B. Pharm degree as ‘Chief Pharmacist’
and the rest are may be at least Diploma holders in
pharmacist.

9.  Should not permit non‐pharmacist personnel to
dispense drugs and allied materials.
 Must employ a sufficient members of qualified
considering the work load of a pharmacist and allow for
adequate coverage(7days/week).
 Must provide adequate safe, work space, and storage
facilities.

10.  Should have equipment necessary to safely and
adequately carry out the modern practice of pharmacy.
 Must have an automatic stop order regulation for
dangerous drugs. eg: narcotics, anticoagulants etc.
 Should have a drug formulary which periodically
revised and kept up to date.

11.  The poisonous materials are separated from
non‐poisonous materials in the pharmacy.
 The external use preparations should be separated from
internal used medications.
 Must have adequate quality control measures and follow
good manufacturing practices.
 Should provide a teaching program to teach students,
nurses the basic course of pharmaceutical mathematics
and pharmacology.

12.  Should be periodically inspected in order to remove
deteriorated and outdated drugs as well as to check all
labels for legibility.
 Should have an adequate reference library which
contains texts on pharmacology, toxicology, posology,
and journals containing information on newer
developments in the pharmaceutical world

13. ROLE OF PTC IN ADVERSE DRUG REACTION
MONITORING PROGRAMME:
 An adverse drug reaction is defined as any usual of
unexpected harmful reaction including acute poisonings
by narcotics, barbiturates, and amphetamines as well as
industrial poisonings.
 There is a proportionate increase in the drug reactions.
In order to gain an understanding of these problems and
to formulate competent opinions, prevention and
treatment, the PTC must assume the responsibility for
the developing and instituting a procedure for the
purpose of committee.

14. ROLE OF PTC IN “EMERGENCY
DRUG LISTS”
 The Time Factor is necessary for the Pharmacy and
Therapeutics Committee of a hospital to get prepared
boxes containing emergency drugs which should be
always available readily for use at the bed‐side.
 List of such drugs and other supplies should compiled
by Committee, and it should find their place in
“Emergency Kits”

15.  After the emergency boxes have been placed in the
wards, it is very essential and compulsory that a system
is developed whereby they are checked daily either by
the hospital pharmacists or by nursing supervisor
responsible for the ward.

16. ROLE OF PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTIC
COMMITTEE IN DRUG PRODUCT DEFECT
REPORTING PROGRAMME
 The drugs purchased by hospital may be defective in
quality.
 It is for the committee to get information about the
defective drug products and to inform it first to the
manufacturer for appropriate action.
 If satisfactory answer is not obtained from the
manufacturer , it should be reported to the Food and
Drug Control Administration.

17. ROLE OF PHARMACY AND THERAPEUTICS
COMMITTEE IN DRUG UTILISATION REVIEW
 Drug utilization includes prescribing, dispensing,
administering and ingesting of prescription of drugs.
 • Hospital pharmacist should take medication history
that should include following information:
 Medication being taken at the time of admission,
during admission, home remedies

18.  Drug allergies and idiosyncrasy towards food products
etc.
 Patent medication profile to be maintained for each
patient. This will serve the following purposes:
 To help improved drug prescribing practices by
promoting the safe and rational use of drugs.
 To detect and help prevent drug‐interactions.
 To detect and prevent adverse drug reactions in
sensitive patients.
 To detect and prevents IV additive incompatibilities.
To detect drug‐induced diseases.
 To help detect and potential drug‐toxicities.

19. ETHICAL CONCERNS OF THE DTC
 The committee needs to operate in a manner that
ensures transparency and avoids conflicts of interest
with manufacturers and distributors of drugs or
medical supplies.
 In order for the committee to maintain objectivity and
credibility, it is necessary that a strict ethics policy be
provided and rigorously enforced.
 There can be no relationships with the
pharmaceutical companies other than a purely
professional one that encourages the flow of unbiased
information about their drug products.