FORMULARIES - THE ROLE OF PHARMACY-AND-THERAPEUTICS (P-AND-T) COMMITTEES

Pharmacy-and-therapeutics (P&T) committees have been established by mo st hospitals and serve as the primary formal communications link betwe en pharmacy and the medical staff. The P&T committee is responsible fo r all matters related to the use of medications in the institution, in cluding the development and maintenance of the formulary (the continua lly revised compilation of drug products available to the medical staf f). The basic objectives of a P&T committee are to specify drugs of ch oice and alternatives, based on safety and efficacy; to minimize thera peutic redundancies; and to maximize cost-effectiveness. Procedures ne cessary to strengthen the role of P&T committees and improve their dec ision-making processes are discussed. The increasing concern with cont rolling health care costs will support the continued expansion of P&T committees, formularies, and the formulary system.