The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (PTC) is a standing hospital committee responsible, through its chairman, to the Hospital executive board. It is a policy recommending body to the medical staff and administration of the hospital on matters related to the therapeutic use of drugs.
PTC will be responsible to define its objectives on an annual basis. Following are the

Objectives of PTC

• To formulate and implement policies for the selection and use of drugs. Specifically, acts as an expert body for advice and information relating to cancer drugs.
• To develop and manage Hospital formulary.
• To develop and implement Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) otherwise to approve protocols for the use of cytotoxic drugs in specific cancers, to include shared care protocols when appropriate.
• To carry out educational and other activities aimed at improving prescriptive and dispensing practices in the hospital.
• To monitor and report Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) and medication errors.
• To carry out root cause analysis for ADR Monitoring and take corrective & preventive measures accordingly.
• To carry out Drug utilization review.
• To advise Pharmacy regarding drug distribution and control procedures.
• To provide prescribers with objective drug information.
• To ensure that the audit and research activities are undertaken in relation to prescribing of cytotoxic drugs and associated therapies, including adherence to chemotherapy protocols to ensure that the evidence-based prescribing is implemented in the institution.

Composition of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee

• Medical Oncologist (At least one representative)
• Radiation Oncologist (At least one representative)
• Surgical Oncologist (At least one representative)
• Pharmacy In Charge
• Medical officer-in-charge
• Nursing Superintendent/ Representative

Functions of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee

The primary functions of the PTC Committee are specified as follows:

a. Advisory

The committee recommends the adoption of or assists in the formulation of policies regarding evaluation, selection and therapeutic use of drugs in the hospital.

b. Educational

The committee recommends or assists in the formulation of programs designed to meet the needs of the professional staff like physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals for complete knowledge on matters related to drugs and their use for the entire medication use process (prescribing, dispensing, Handling, Reconstitution, administering, and therapeutic monitoring) across the continuum of care (inpatient, emergency, outpatient, and home care).

c. Other activities carried out by the committee include

• Drawing up and circulating criteria for selection of drugs. Clinical efficacy and cost of therapy are the two most important criteria, but others can also be considered.
• Developing protocols and defining levels of use of particular items like antibiotics, blood, and especially very costly drugs like cytotoxic drugs. Setting limits of dispensing quantities.
• Coordinating communications with pharmaceutical company representatives through Senior Management.
• Approve/disapprove drugs and drug combinations.
• To establish generic and therapeutic substitution guidelines.
• Monitor & analyze the procurement of medications outside the Hospital formulary through New Drug Indent Forms.
• To address problems related to the quality of medicines.

d. Meeting schedule

The committee meets once in two months on a regular basis and more meetings are held on a need basis. The meetings are recorded and such record is kept with the Chief Pharmacist.