Definition and functions of hospital pharmacy MCQs With Answer provide B.Pharm students a focused review of the hospital pharmacy role, including definition, drug procurement, storage, dispensing, compounding, clinical pharmacy services, therapeutic drug monitoring, medication safety, inventory management, formulary and pharmacovigilance. This concise introduction highlights core functions such as aseptic preparation, unit-dose distribution, controlled drug management, patient counselling and participation in the Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee. Emphasis on quality assurance, infection control and regulatory compliance helps students link theory to practical hospital workflows. These MCQs reinforce critical concepts and prepare learners for exams and professional practice.
‘Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.’
Q1. What best defines hospital pharmacy?
- A specialized branch of pharmacy responsible for procurement, storage, compounding, dispensing and clinical management of medicines within a hospital
- A retail outlet selling over-the-counter drugs to the public
- A pharmaceutical manufacturing unit producing hospital medicines
- A regulatory body that inspects hospital facilities
Correct Answer: A specialized branch of pharmacy responsible for procurement, storage, compounding, dispensing and clinical management of medicines within a hospital
Q2. Which is a primary function of a hospital pharmacy?
- Procurement, storage and distribution of medicines and medical supplies to hospital units
- Selling prescription medicines directly to outpatient customers without counseling
- Setting national drug prices
- Manufacturing generic drugs for community pharmacies
Correct Answer: Procurement, storage and distribution of medicines and medical supplies to hospital units
Q3. Which drug distribution system most directly reduces medication administration errors by providing individually packaged doses?
- Unit-dose packaging system
- Floor-stock system
- Open shelf system
- Bulk dispensing system
Correct Answer: Unit-dose packaging system
Q4. What is the main role of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) committee in a hospital?
- Developing and managing the hospital drug formulary and therapeutic policies
- Conducting bedside nursing care
- Manufacturing sterile products
- Performing routine patient laboratory tests
Correct Answer: Developing and managing the hospital drug formulary and therapeutic policies
Q5. What term describes the hospital activity of detecting, assessing and preventing adverse drug reactions?
- Pharmacovigilance
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Pharmacopeia development
- Pharmaceutical marketing
Correct Answer: Pharmacovigilance
Q6. Which document is essential for controlled/narcotic drug accountability in the hospital?
- Controlled drug register (narcotic register)
- Purchase order form only
- Patient’s medical record without entries
- Monthly stock photos
Correct Answer: Controlled drug register (narcotic register)
Q7. Which definition best describes clinical pharmacy within a hospital?
- Patient-centered services provided by pharmacists to optimize medication therapy and clinical outcomes
- Only the manufacturing of sterile injections
- Administrative tasks without patient interaction
- Retail counseling at community shops
Correct Answer: Patient-centered services provided by pharmacists to optimize medication therapy and clinical outcomes
Q8. What does TDM stand for in hospital pharmacy practice?
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
- Time-Driven Management
- Toxic Dose Measurement
- Titration and Dilution Method
Correct Answer: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Q9. What is the primary parameter measured in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring?
- Serum (plasma) drug concentration
- Patient body temperature
- Drug manufacturing batch number
- Tablet hardness
Correct Answer: Serum (plasma) drug concentration
Q10. Which labeling element is essential on dispensed hospital medications?
- Patient name, drug name, strength, dosage instructions and expiry or beyond-use date
- Only the drug’s brand name
- Pharmacist’s personal notes in shorthand
- Manufacturer’s internal code only
Correct Answer: Patient name, drug name, strength, dosage instructions and expiry or beyond-use date
Q11. Which hospital pharmacy activity most directly supports infection control?
- Aseptic preparation of sterile intravenous admixtures and adherence to sterile technique
- Marketing hospital pharmacy services to visitors
- Storing oral tablets on open racks
- Allowing clinicians to compound in non-sterile areas
Correct Answer: Aseptic preparation of sterile intravenous admixtures and adherence to sterile technique
Q12. What is a hospital formulary?
- An approved, regularly reviewed list of medicines selected for use within the hospital
- A record of all visitors to the pharmacy
- A list of all pharmaceutical companies
- An invoice log for suppliers only
Correct Answer: An approved, regularly reviewed list of medicines selected for use within the hospital
Q13. Medication reconciliation at hospital admission aims to:
- Create an accurate medication list and resolve discrepancies during care transitions
- Replace all outpatient medicines with hospital brands
- Delay therapy until discharge
- Authorize unverified medications for immediate use
Correct Answer: Create an accurate medication list and resolve discrepancies during care transitions
Q14. Which inventory control method classifies stock by cost impact and usage frequency?
- ABC analysis
- Random sampling
- First-come-first-served
- Color coding without records
Correct Answer: ABC analysis
Q15. Compared to floor-stock systems, unit-dose distribution primarily provides:
- Improved medication safety and dose-level control
- Faster bulk dispensing to wards without checks
- Lower labeling requirements
- Less pharmacist involvement
Correct Answer: Improved medication safety and dose-level control
Q16. Which of the following is a core responsibility of hospital pharmacists during dispensing?
- Ensuring correct drug, dose, route, frequency and patient counseling
- Performing surgery if needed
- Administering all IV medications personally
- Removing safety labels to speed dispensing
Correct Answer: Ensuring correct drug, dose, route, frequency and patient counseling
Q17. Which guideline is commonly referenced for standards on sterile compounding in many hospitals?
- USP Chapter 797 (standards for sterile compounding)
- International Marketing Code
- Community Pharmacy Retail Guidelines
- Hospital Cafeteria Safety Manual
Correct Answer: USP Chapter 797 (standards for sterile compounding)
Q18. What describes a decentralized pharmacy model?
- Pharmacy satellite units located near patient care areas to provide faster services
- A single central pharmacy serving the entire hospital from one location only
- A pharmacy that operates only during night shifts
- A virtual pharmacy with no physical stock
Correct Answer: Pharmacy satellite units located near patient care areas to provide faster services
Q19. Why are formulary restrictions applied to certain medicines?
- To promote rational, cost-effective and evidence-based use of selected drugs
- To make access to medicines more difficult without reason
- To prevent any clinician from prescribing new drugs
- To allow unrestricted dispensing of high-cost drugs
Correct Answer: To promote rational, cost-effective and evidence-based use of selected drugs
Q20. Unit-dose packaging means:
- Each administered dose is individually packaged and labeled for a specific patient or administration time
- Large bottles are opened for multiple patients
- Drugs are supplied only in bulk to wards
- All doses are prepared by nurses without pharmacist oversight
Correct Answer: Each administered dose is individually packaged and labeled for a specific patient or administration time
Q21. Which activity is a key part of pharmacy quality assurance programs?
- Medication error reporting, analysis and corrective actions
- Avoiding documentation to save time
- Ignoring near-miss events
- Eliminating staff training programs
Correct Answer: Medication error reporting, analysis and corrective actions
Q22. Which equipment provides a sterile work area for preparing IV admixtures?
- Laminar airflow hood (Class II biological safety cabinet)
- Ordinary desktop fan
- Open window bench
- Standard office photocopier
Correct Answer: Laminar airflow hood (Class II biological safety cabinet)
Q23. A pharmacy technician’s primary role in a hospital is to:
- Assist pharmacists in dispensing, inventory and technical tasks under supervision
- Prescribe antibiotics independently
- Perform clinical diagnosis without oversight
- Conduct surgical procedures
Correct Answer: Assist pharmacists in dispensing, inventory and technical tasks under supervision
Q24. Which activity is part of the hospital drug procurement process?
- Selection and purchasing of medicines, vendor evaluation and receiving stock
- Only advertising medicines to patients
- Ignoring expiry dates during purchase
- Purchasing without record keeping
Correct Answer: Selection and purchasing of medicines, vendor evaluation and receiving stock
Q25. Which technological tool has significantly reduced bedside medication administration errors?
- Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems
- Paper-only medication charts with no verification
- Manual tallying by patients
- Using sticky notes for dosing reminders
Correct Answer: Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems
Q26. What is a central pharmacy in a hospital?
- The main pharmacy unit responsible for procurement, compounding and central dispensing for the facility
- A mini-store selling snacks
- A unit that handles only non-medical supplies
- A patient ward for long-term care
Correct Answer: The main pharmacy unit responsible for procurement, compounding and central dispensing for the facility
Q27. Which action is a fundamental part of pharmacovigilance in hospitals?
- Reporting adverse drug reactions to the appropriate monitoring center
- Discarding all ADR information immediately
- Keeping ADRs confidential without review
- Promoting off-label use without record
Correct Answer: Reporting adverse drug reactions to the appropriate monitoring center
Q28. For most non-refrigerated medicines, the recommended storage condition is described as:
- Controlled room temperature, typically around 15–25°C
- Frozen at -20°C
- Exposed to direct sunlight
- Stored on heated surfaces
Correct Answer: Controlled room temperature, typically around 15–25°C
Q29. Which document records each dispensing and administration of narcotics in wards?
- Controlled drug register or ward narcotic logbook
- Generic purchase catalog
- Visitor sign-in sheet
- Patient dietary chart
Correct Answer: Controlled drug register or ward narcotic logbook
Q30. What is the purpose of therapeutic interchange in a hospital formulary?
- Substituting a prescribed drug with a therapeutically equivalent formulary alternative within the same class
- Replacing all medications with the newest brand regardless of evidence
- Automatically switching patients to over-the-counter products
- Allowing unrestricted substitution of different drug classes
Correct Answer: Substituting a prescribed drug with a therapeutically equivalent formulary alternative within the same class
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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