E-drug: Re: Drug and Therapeutics Committees (3)
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Yes we here are involved in a similar activity!
The Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee at Shaukat Khanum has a clearly
defined Policy and the committee is functioning successfully since the
openning of the hospital in December 1994.
The Committee here is an advisory group that serves as a line of
communication between the medical staff and pharmacy. This Committee is
composed of physicians, pharmacists and other health professionals selected
with the guidance of the medical staff. It is a policy recommending body to
the medical and the administration of the hospital on matters related to the
rational and
therapeutic use of drugs.
Purpose:
A Advisory
The committee recommends the adoption of or assist in the formulation of
broad professional policies regarding eveluation, selection and rational
therapeutic use of drugs in the hospital.
B Educational
The Committee recommends or assists in formulation of programs designed to
meet the needs of the professional staff (physicians, nurses, pharmacists
and other health practitioners) for complete current knowledge on matters
related to drugs and their use.
Organisation & Operation
1. The P & T Committee is composed of physicians, pharmacist, representative
form nursing staff and other health professionals selected with the guidance
of the medical staff.
2. Physician's representative is the Chairman.
3. Pharmacist is designated as the Secretary
4. Committee meets regularly, usually monthly at six times per year, and
when necessary.
5. An agenda and supplementary material (Including minutes of the previous
meeting) is prepared by the secretary and submitted to the members.
6. A recommendation of the Committee is presented to the medical staff or
its appropriate committee for adoption or recommendation.
7. Liason with other hospital Committees concerned with drug use is maintained.
Function & Scope
1. It serves in an advisory capacity to the medical staff and hospital
administration in all matters pertaining to rational use of drugs (Including
investigational drugs).
2. Develop a formulary of drugs accepted for use in the hospital and provide
for its constant revision. The committee minimizes duplication of the same
basic drug type, drug entity or drug product.
3. Plan suitable educational programs for the hospital health professional
staff on matters related to drug use.
4. Study problems related to the distribution and administration of
medication including medication incidents.
5. Review adverse drug reactions occuring in the hospital
6. Initiate and /or direct drug use review programs and studies and review
the results of such activity.
7. Advise the pharmacy in the implementation of effective drug distribution
and control procedures.
8. Make recommendations concerning drugs to be stocked in hospital's patient
care area.
Policy Applying to the admission of a drug to the formulary.
A drug approved for the formular is a single therapeutic agent recommended
as essential one whose place in therapy is well established and
unquestioned. Fixed combinations of two or more drugs will not be included
unless evidence is submitted that the combination presents therapeutic
advantage over the single component.
A drug may be approved for the formulary for one or more of the following
reasons:
1. It is the only drug that is effective for a specific treatment
2. It is superior to other drugs in use because of
A Effectiveness for all patients or for selected patients
B Decrease toxicity or greater patient tolerance
C Less expensive, although as effective as other agents
D Ease of method of administration.
Hospital Formulary
It is the list of drugs to be stocked by the pharmacy and is approved by the
committee.
Formulary drugs:
All drugs listed in this formulary are available for use by the attending
and house staff of SKMCH & Research Centre.
Fromulary addition or deletions
The P & T committee on monthly basis will act upon all requests for addition
to or deletion from the formulary. The attending medical staff may only make
such requests. The addition of any medication to the formulary will be by
generic basis unless it can be demonstrated that the product of a particular
manufacturer is clearly superior to any other available. Except for such
cases, the source of supply shall be the resopnsibility of the manager
Pharmaceutical Services. The addition or deletion of a drug from the
formulary and the reason for such action will be noted in the minutes of the
P & T Committee and circulated to all relevant persons.
Requests for addition or deletion to the formulary must be made to the
Manager Pharmaceutical Services on a 'Request for Addition to the Formulary'
form which is available form the manager Pharmaceutical Services. He serves
as Secretary to the Committee.
Physicians submitting requests for addition of new drugs should attend the
meeting at which their request is being evaluated to present further
information and answer any questions. They may not however, be present
during the actual voting on the request. If the requesting physician cannot
be present at the meeting a representative should be sent in their place
Changes in the formulary will be distributed to ther professional staff.
Non Formulary Drugs
Members of the house staff may not order non-formulary drugs. Only full-time
attending physicians & surgeons may order non-formulary drugs for inpatients
and outpatients.
The Committee will review request for non-formulary drugs and appropriate
Physician or service chiefs may be contacted for further information.
Non-formulary drugs not previously authorised will be ordered from the
wholesaler as sson as possible, following approval. In emergencies, approval
for obtaining and initial small quantity may be obtained from the medical
director or his designee.
Drug samples
Drug samples are prohabited in all areas of SKMC & RC, in accordance with
the rules committee.
Physicians may request medicationds for their own private patients from the
medical representatives. But they are not to be stored in any patient area
of the hospital or used by any inpatient.
Dr. Mazhar Mustafa
Manager, Pharmaceutical Services
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre
Johar Town, Lahore Pakistan
Email: skmtphr@brain.net.pk
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