When you pick up a prescription, you might not think about who decided that drug should be available — but someone did. That’s where the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee, a group of doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who evaluate and approve which medications are used in hospitals and health systems. Also known as a P&T committee, it’s the quiet force behind every drug on your hospital’s formulary. This isn’t about marketing or profits. It’s about science, safety, and cost. They review clinical data, compare side effects, check for drug interactions, and ask: Does this drug actually help patients more than what’s already available — and at a price that makes sense?
These committees don’t just pick new drugs. They also kick out ones that don’t deliver. If a cheaper generic works just as well, they’ll switch. If a new biosimilar offers the same results as a $10,000 biologic, they’ll push for it. That’s why you might get a different brand than your doctor originally wrote — it’s not a mistake, it’s the committee doing its job. They also set rules for how drugs are used. For example, they might require you to try a safer, older drug before approving a powerful opioid or steroid. That’s not restriction — it’s protection. And it’s why you see so many posts here about tapering steroids, avoiding grapefruit with meds, or understanding authorized generics. Those aren’t random topics. They’re exactly the kinds of issues a P&T committee weighs every week.
Behind every decision is data — real-world outcomes, cost-per-patient, hospital readmission rates, and safety reports. They look at studies like those on SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes or the risks of combining sedatives. They track how often early refills happen or how many kids get overdosed on OTC cold medicine. That’s why the posts here cover pediatric dosing, duplicate therapy errors, and drug databases like DailyMed. The P&T committee doesn’t just approve drugs — it prevents harm. And it’s why you’ll find guides on lung cancer screening, opioid withdrawal, and statin interactions. All of it connects. The committee’s job is to make sure what’s on the shelf is what’s truly needed.
They also set the stage for how new drugs enter the system. When a biosimilar gets FDA approval, the committee decides whether to add it — and how fast. They look at patent timelines, like the 12-year exclusivity for biologics or the 180-day generic exclusivity loophole. They know how drug pricing works because they’re the ones who have to pay for it — and they’re the ones who see the real cost to patients. That’s why they care about authorized generics, why they push back on brand-name drugs with no real advantage, and why they fight to keep prices down. This isn’t abstract policy. It’s your medicine on the shelf, your co-pay at the counter, your risk of side effects or overdose.
What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a map of how the Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee’s decisions ripple through every corner of your care — from the steroid taper you’re on, to the grapefruit juice you’re told to avoid, to the generic pill you didn’t know was just as good as the brand. These posts show you the real-world impact of those behind-the-scenes choices. And if you’ve ever wondered why your doctor changed your med or why your pharmacy ran out of a certain drug — this is why.
