HOSPITAL PHARMACY: A TEACHER’S COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Welcome, future pharmacists and healthcare professionals!
Hospital is a complex organisation. It is an institute for providing health to individuals with the help of complex and special scientific equipments in the presence of trained and well-educated staff. As per WHO, hospitals are reservoirs of critical resources and knowledge. They can be classified according to the interventions they provide, the roles they play in the health system and the health and educational services they offer to the communities in and around them.
Dpharmguru’s exam insights:
In my years of teaching hospital pharmacy, I have observed that students often underestimate the complexity of hospital pharmacy practice. Remember: Hospital pharmacy is not just about dispensing medicines—it involves procurement, manufacturing, quality control, and clinical pharmacy services. This is a key topic that frequently appears in exams!
FUNCTIONS OF HOSPITAL
- Quality of Medical Practice: Hospitals increase the quality of law and standards of medical practice.
- Disease Occurrence: They reduce the chances of occurrence of diseases by early detection and treatment.
- Evaluation, Regulation, and Maintenance: They evaluate the needs for facilities, supplies, and equipment to apply these services for evaluation, regulation, and maintenance.
- Bridging the Gap: They serve as a link between the public and policy makers.
- Adequacy of Staff: They evaluate the department’s needs and recommend policies and methods to maintain adequate staff.
- Development in the Field of Medical Science: They help in medical science development so that the doctors and nurses receive training in reputed teaching hospitals.
- Records and Reports: They develop an effective system of clinical and administrative records and reports.
- Economic Management: They contribute in the economic idea for carrying out the processes of hospitals.
- Education Facilities: They give the facility for continuing education of all the persons.
- Safety Programmes: They contribute and put into practice the safety programs of hospitals.
CLASSIFICATION OF HOSPITAL
Hospitals can be classified based on various criteria:
- Based on Length of Stay: Short-term (stay less than 30 days) and Long-term (stay more than 30 days)
- Based on Clinical Basis: Psychiatric, Orthopedics, Maternity
- Based on Ownership/Control: Public, Voluntary, Private Nursing Homes, Corporate
- Based on Objectives: Teaching-cum-research, General, Specialised, Isolation
- Based on Size: Large (More than 100 beds), Medium (501-1000 beds), Small (100-500 beds), Very Small (below 100 beds)
- Based on System of Medicine: Allopathic, Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Unani
HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Definition
Hospital pharmacy is the health care service, which comprises the art, practice, and profession of choosing, preparing, storing, compounding, and dispensing medicines and medical devices, advising healthcare professionals and patients on their safe, effective and efficient use. Hospital pharmacy functions for receiving, storing and dispensing drugs and medicines to patients. The hospital pharmacy may also manufacture pharmaceuticals and parenteral products.
Objectives of Hospital Pharmacy
- To maintain the professional working environment of the hospital pharmacy in order to attain the objectives of the hospital.
- To make sure that the required medications are available at all times at affordable cost and are of good quality and have better efficacy.
- To plan, organise, and execute the policies of the pharmacy as per the hospital norms.
- To manage materials, purchase, storage of essential items and medicaments along with the maintenance of inventory for received and issued items.
- To perform counselling of patient, medical staff, nurses, and personnel taking care of the patients with respect to drugs, its side effects, drug interactions, toxicity, adverse effects, etc.
- To provide information on drug usage.
- To manufacture drugs, large or small volume parenterals used for patients along with those not readily available from the drug manufacturing companies.
- To participate in and apply the rules of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
- To contribute in research programmes, educational programmes, and offer trainings to members of the patient care team on action, administration and usage of drugs.
- To involve in public health activities and improve the well-being of the population.
Dpharmguru’s exam insights:
A common exam question is: “What are the objectives of hospital pharmacy?” Remember: The key objectives include maintaining professional environment, ensuring drug availability, managing inventory, patient counselling, and participating in research and education programs.
Scope of Hospital Pharmacy
- Supply of drugs from licensed vendors and manufacturers
- Inspection of received items and inventory maintenance
- Dispensing of drugs to patients
- Record maintenance of narcotic drugs and alcohol substances
- Demand estimation for drugs and biologicals
- Manufacture of sterile preparations
- Quality maintenance of supplies
- Liaison with healthcare team
- Improvement of health
HOSPITAL PHARMACIST
Professional Responsibilities
- In-patient Pharmacist: Dispensing, drug information, patient care area services, direct patient care, and general responsibilities
- Out-patient Pharmacist: Central dispensing, patient care area services, and general responsibilities
Qualification Requirements
- Education: B.Pharm, M.Pharm, or Pharm.D from PCI recognized institution
- Training: Minimum one year as required by PCI
- Registration: State Pharmacy Council registration
- License: From Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)
Dpharmguru’s exam insights:
Remember the qualifications required for a hospital pharmacist: Education (B.Pharm/M.Pharm/Pharm.D), Training (1 year), Registration (State Pharmacy Council), and License (DCGI). This sequence is frequently tested in exams!
GOOD PHARMACY PRACTICE (GPP) IN HOSPITAL
The Good Pharmacy Practice in Community and Hospital Pharmacy Settings standards for pharmacy services were created by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 1992.
Aim of GPP
- To offer drugs and other healthcare goods and services
- To guide people and society about effective method of using them
- To participate in initiatives to protect public health
- To guarantee maximum therapeutic benefit
FIP BASEL STATEMENTS
The Basel Statements cover six areas of hospital pharmacy:
- Procurement: Transparent procurement procedures, quality assurance, formulary-based purchasing
- Influences on Prescribing: Drug formulary system, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee involvement, collaborative prescribing
- Preparation and Delivery of Medicines: Medication storage, preparation, dispensing, and distribution
- Administration of Medicines: Information resources, medication labels, independent double-checking for high-risk drugs
- Monitoring of Medicines Use: Adverse drug reaction reporting, medication error reporting, drug use evaluation
- Human Resources, Training, and Development: Competency frameworks, workforce planning, training programs
Dpharmguru’s exam insights:
The FIP Basel Statements are frequently tested in exams. Remember the six areas: Procurement, Influences on Prescribing, Preparation and Delivery, Administration, Monitoring, and Human Resources. A useful mnemonic: “PIPAMH” – Procurement, Influences, Preparation, Administration, Monitoring, Human Resources.
NABH ACCREDITATION AND ROLE OF PHARMACIST
NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) is a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI) that has been established to create and operate Hospital Accreditation Program for healthcare organisations.
Role of Pharmacist in NABH
- Medication Management: Procurement, storage, distribution, and dispensing of medications
- Patient Safety: Identification and prevention of medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions
- Quality Improvement: Participation in medication-related audits and quality improvement projects
- Compliance with Standards: Ensuring pharmacy services meet NABH standards
- Clinical Pharmacy Services: Medication therapy management, drug information, and pharmacotherapy consultations
- Training and Education: Providing training to healthcare professionals on medication-related topics
- Adherence to Regulatory Requirements: Compliance with drug laws and regulations
SUMMARY: HOSPITAL PHARMACY AT A GLANCE
| Area | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Definition | Health care service involving selection, preparation, storage, compounding, and dispensing of medicines |
| Objectives | Professional environment, drug availability, patient counselling, research, education |
| Pharmacist Role | Dispensing, manufacturing, quality control, patient care, drug information |
| GPP | Patient welfare, quality medications, rational prescribing, patient-centered care |
| FIP Basel Statements | 6 areas: Procurement, Influences, Preparation, Administration, Monitoring, Human Resources |
| NABH Role | Medication management, patient safety, quality improvement, compliance, clinical services |
Dpharmguru’s exam insights:
Hospital pharmacy is a complex and rewarding field. Remember the key differences between community and hospital pharmacy: Hospital pharmacy involves manufacturing, sterile preparations, and clinical pharmacy services. Focus on the FIP Basel Statements and NABH accreditation standards—these are frequently tested in exams!
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
- Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). (2022). Hospital Pharmacy Guidelines. New Delhi: PCI.
- International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). (2022). Basel Statements on Hospital Pharmacy. Retrieved from https://www.fip.org.
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2022). Hospital Pharmacy Services. Retrieved from https://www.who.int.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2022). NABH Accreditation Standards. Government of India.
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). (2022). ASHP Guidelines on Hospital Pharmacy. Retrieved from https://www.ashp.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical concerns.
written by:
Dr. N. Sujith Kumar
