Who decides whether a new drug should be added to the hospital formulary?

Who decides whether a new drug should be added to the hospital formulary?

• A. The Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee
• B. Hospital administrator
• C. Nursing staff
• D. Finance committee

Answer: (A)

Deciding whether a new drug goes on the hospital formulary is handled by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee. This multidisciplinary group reviews the evidence on a drug’s safety and effectiveness, how it fits with available therapies, and the expected cost and budget impact for the institution. They consider practical aspects like dosing, monitoring requirements, potential interactions, and how the drug would be used in real patient care, including any need for prior authorization or step therapy. While hospital leadership and finance may influence resources and policy, the formal decision to add or not add a drug rests with the P&T committee. Nursing input is valuable for administration practicality and patient care considerations, but they do not make the final formulary decision.

Deciding whether a new drug goes on the hospital formulary is handled by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee. This multidisciplinary group reviews the evidence on a drug’s safety and effectiveness, how it fits with available therapies, and the expected cost and budget impact for the institution. They consider practical aspects like dosing, monitoring requirements, potential interactions, and how the drug would be used in real patient care, including any need for prior authorization or step therapy. While hospital leadership and finance may influence resources and policy, the formal decision to add or not add a drug rests with the P&T committee. Nursing input is valuable for administration practicality and patient care considerations, but they do not make the final formulary decision.