Which term denotes the official list of medications approved for hospital use?

• A. Drug Catalogue
• B. Pharmacy Ledger
• C. Medication Inventory
• D. Hospital Formulary

Answer: (D)

The official list of medications approved for hospital use is the formulary. It’s created and maintained by the hospital’s Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee after reviewing evidence on safety, effectiveness, and cost. The formulary standardizes what can be prescribed, guiding clinicians to choose first-line therapies and preferred products, and it often includes dosing guidelines and categories like unrestricted or restricted use. This framework helps ensure consistent, safe prescribing and efficient procurement. Other terms like a drug catalogue, pharmacy ledger, or medication inventory describe stock records or general listings, but they don’t represent the formally approved, evidence-based set of medications that can be used in patient care.