MCQ on Hospital Pharmacy Management

🟢 Easy (1–20)

1. What is the primary function of a hospital pharmacy?
   a) Conduct clinical trials
   b) Manufacture cosmetics
   c) Dispense medications to inpatients ✅
   d) Sell OTC drugs only
   Explanation: Hospital pharmacies focus on inpatient care and medication dispensing.
2. Who is responsible for managing the hospital pharmacy?
   a) Chief surgeon
   b) Pharmacist in-charge ✅
   c) Nurse supervisor
   d) Hospital administrator
   Explanation: The pharmacist-in-charge oversees pharmacy operations.
3. Which of the following is a component of hospital formulary?
   a) List of staff
   b) List of food items
   c) List of approved drugs ✅
   d) List of lab equipment
   Explanation: The formulary includes drugs approved for use in the hospital.
4. Which record is essential in hospital pharmacy?
   a) Class schedule
   b) Patient diet record
   c) Drug inventory record ✅
   d) Visitor register
   Explanation: Inventory records help maintain stock and prevent shortages.
5. The term ‘floor stock’ refers to:
   a) Office furniture
   b) Emergency equipment
   c) Medications stored in wards ✅
   d) Lab chemicals
   Explanation: Floor stock is readily available medication in hospital wards.
6. Which form of prescription is used in hospitals?
   a) Retail bill
   b) Inpatient prescription ✅
   c) OPD receipt
   d) Discharge slip
   Explanation: Inpatient prescriptions are used to treat admitted patients.
7. Hospital pharmacy is classified under:
   a) Industrial pharmacy
   b) Retail pharmacy
   c) Institutional pharmacy ✅
   d) Mail-order pharmacy
   Explanation: It is a type of institutional pharmacy, serving a hospital.
8. What is a unit dose system?
   a) A bulk drug supply
   b) Drug given once a week
   c) Individually packed dose per patient ✅
   d) A multi-drug injection
   Explanation: It enhances safety by delivering single-use doses.
9. Which department does a hospital pharmacist collaborate with?
   a) Catering
   b) Surgery ✅
   c) Parking
   d) Housekeeping
   Explanation: Pharmacists work closely with clinical departments like surgery.
10. Which route is most commonly used in hospitals?
    a) Oral ✅
    b) Ocular
    c) Intrathecal
    d) Topical
    Explanation: Oral administration is common due to ease and safety.
11. Cytotoxic drugs should be handled in:
    a) General stores
    b) Class II biosafety cabinet ✅
    c) Open tables
    d) Kitchen
    Explanation: A biosafety cabinet ensures safe handling of hazardous drugs.
12. Which organization regulates hospital pharmacies in India?
    a) ICMR
    b) PCI ✅
    c) AIIMS
    d) WHO
    Explanation: The Pharmacy Council of India sets guidelines for practice.
13. Emergency medications are stored in:
    a) Lockers
    b) Emergency drug tray ✅
    c) Library
    d) File cabinet
    Explanation: Emergency trays are quickly accessible for urgent needs.
14. Which of the following is a function of hospital pharmacy?
    a) Selling cosmetics
    b) Clinical trials
    c) Drug storage and distribution ✅
    d) Advertising drugs
    Explanation: Drug procurement, storage, and distribution are key roles.
15. Hospital pharmacists participate in:
    a) Surgical procedures
    b) Clinical rounds ✅
    c) Construction
    d) Laundry
    Explanation: They offer drug-related input during ward rounds.
16. Which record is maintained for narcotic drugs?
    a) Visitor log
    b) Prescription pad
    c) Narcotic register ✅
    d) Salary sheet
    Explanation: Legal compliance requires accurate narcotic records.
17. Cold chain management is important for:
    a) Ointments
    b) Vaccines ✅
    c) Bandages
    d) Tablets
    Explanation: Vaccines must be stored under specific temperature conditions.
18. Which is a parenteral dosage form?
    a) Tablet
    b) Capsule
    c) Injection ✅
    d) Ointment
    Explanation: Parenteral refers to non-oral routes, typically injections.
19. Hospital formulary is prepared by:
    a) Pathologist
    b) Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC) ✅
    c) Radiologist
    d) Storekeeper
    Explanation: DTC ensures rational drug use in the hospital.
20. Which schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act covers hospital drug labeling in India?
    a) Schedule H ✅
    b) Schedule F
    c) Schedule J
    d) Schedule P
    Explanation: Schedule H drugs are prescription-only and used in hospitals.

🟡 Moderate (21–40)

21. What is the advantage of a unit dose system?
    a) Cost-saving
    b) Increased errors
    c) Reduces medication errors ✅
    d) Time-consuming
    Explanation: It ensures precise dosing and minimizes mistakes.
22. Which document helps in tracking drug usage trends?
    a) Attendance log
    b) Medication Administration Record (MAR) ✅
    c) Lab report
    d) Discharge summary
    Explanation: MAR records drug use per patient.
23. Which of the following is a sterile product?
    a) Ointment
    b) Tablet
    c) Injection ✅
    d) Capsule
    Explanation: Injections must be sterile to prevent infection.
24. What is the ideal temperature for refrigerated drug storage?
    a) 0–2°C
    b) 2–8°C ✅
    c) 8–12°C
    d) 10–20°C
    Explanation: Most biologics and vaccines require 2–8°C.
25. The term ‘extemporaneous preparation’ means:
    a) Preparing meals
    b) Manufacturing drugs
    c) On-demand compounding of medication ✅
    d) Storing expired drugs
    Explanation: It refers to custom preparation of drugs for a specific patient.
26. Which system reduces drug wastage in hospital pharmacies?
    a) Bulk dispensing
    b) Floor stock
    c) Unit dose ✅
    d) Manual counting
    Explanation: Accurate, single-dose dispensing minimizes leftovers.
27. What is pharmacy and therapeutic committee’s main function?
    a) Conduct lab tests
    b) Develop drug policies ✅
    c) Perform surgery
    d) Maintain accounts
    Explanation: The PTC ensures safe, effective drug use.
28. Which of these is an advantage of central pharmacy?
    a) Easy misuse
    b) High wastage
    c) Centralized inventory control ✅
    d) Duplication of services
    Explanation: Central pharmacies ensure uniform management.
29. Which drug category needs separate storage in hospitals?
    a) Antibiotics
    b) Antacids
    c) Narcotics ✅
    d) Multivitamins
    Explanation: Narcotics are high-risk and require locked storage.
30. Which technique helps reduce drug interactions in hospitals?
    a) Use of expired drugs
    b) Random prescriptions
    c) Electronic prescribing ✅
    d) Manual typing
    Explanation: Electronic systems check for interactions and errors.
31. Which is not a hospital pharmacy responsibility?
    a) Drug procurement
    b) Waste disposal
    c) Drug advertisement ✅
    d) Inventory control
    Explanation: Advertising is not part of pharmacy practice.
32. Which parameter is critical for injectable drug quality?
    a) Taste
    b) Color
    c) Sterility ✅
    d) Solubility
    Explanation: Injectables must be free from microbes.
33. A satellite pharmacy is located:
    a) At hospital entrance
    b) Near patient care areas ✅
    c) Off-site
    d) In the library
    Explanation: Satellite pharmacies serve specific wards or ICUs.
34. Who is authorized to prescribe drugs in hospitals?
    a) Pharmacist
    b) Physician ✅
    c) Nurse
    d) Receptionist
    Explanation: Physicians write prescriptions; pharmacists dispense them.
35. Which method is used for narcotic drug audit?
    a) Visual check
    b) Serial counting ✅
    c) Random guess
    d) Oral questioning
    Explanation: Serial number audits ensure accountability.
36. Which device maintains cold storage?
    a) Heater
    b) Deep freezer ✅
    c) Oven
    d) Thermometer
    Explanation: Freezers store temperature-sensitive drugs.
37. Pharmacovigilance in hospitals refers to:
    a) Drug cost analysis
    b) ADR monitoring ✅
    c) Patient registration
    d) Room allocation
    Explanation: Pharmacovigilance detects and reports adverse drug reactions.
38. A key factor in drug formulary selection is:
    a) Popularity
    b) Cost-effectiveness ✅
    c) Brand loyalty
    d) Manufacturer origin
    Explanation: Economical yet effective drugs are preferred.
39. Stock verification helps prevent:
    a) Staff promotion
    b) Drug shortages ✅
    c) Patient delay
    d) Increased salaries
    Explanation: It ensures adequate availability of drugs.
40. Which of the following is a high-alert medication?
    a) Paracetamol
    b) Morphine ✅
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Cough syrup
    Explanation: High-alert drugs require special handling due to potential harm.

🔴 Hard (41–50)

41. Which method ensures sterility in compounded injectables?
    a) Boiling
    b) Filtration through 0.22 micron filter ✅
    c) Sun drying
    d) Hand mixing
    Explanation: Filtration removes microorganisms from solutions.
42. What is an ADC in hospital pharmacy?
    a) Automated Dispensing Cabinet ✅
    b) Antidepressant Drug Chart
    c) Automatic Drug Capsule
    d) Assisted Drug Coding
    Explanation: ADCs automate medication storage and retrieval.
43. A satellite pharmacy is most useful in:
    a) Cafeteria
    b) Emergency and ICU ✅
    c) Waiting area
    d) Garden
    Explanation: Satellite pharmacies speed up emergency drug delivery.
44. A prescription audit is conducted to:
    a) Punish doctors
    b) Improve prescribing habits ✅
    c) Advertise drugs
    d) Reduce treatment
    Explanation: It ensures rational drug use and cost control.
45. Look-alike sound-alike (LASA) drug errors can be prevented by:
    a) Ignoring similar names
    b) Tall man lettering ✅
    c) Mixing brands
    d) Handwritten labels only
    Explanation: Emphasizing different parts of names reduces confusion.
46. Barcode medication administration system helps in:
    a) Branding
    b) Inventory selling
    c) Reducing administration errors ✅
    d) Manufacturing
    Explanation: Scanning ensures correct patient and dose.
47. A hospital pharmacist’s clinical role includes:
    a) Writing prescriptions
    b) Recommending therapeutic alternatives ✅
    c) Diagnosing disease
    d) Performing surgery
    Explanation: They advise on drug selection and interactions.
48. Which is a key KPI (Key Performance Indicator) in hospital pharmacy?
    a) Number of surgeries
    b) Drug wastage rate ✅
    c) Patient meals
    d) Laundry cost
    Explanation: KPIs like wastage help improve performance.
49. Aseptic techniques are applied during:
    a) Patient consultation
    b) Oral dosing
    c) Parenteral preparation ✅
    d) Waste management
    Explanation: These prevent contamination during sterile compounding.
50. Drug utilization review (DUR) is done to:
    a) Promote expensive brands
    b) Evaluate drug prescribing practices ✅
    c) Sell more drugs
    d) Reduce therapy
    Explanation: DUR ensures appropriate, safe, and cost-effective use of medications.