Question

How many Pharmacists are required for a hospital having up to 300 beds:

• A. 8
• B. 10
• C. 15
• D. 5

Hint:

For hospitals up to 300 beds, at least 10 pharmacists are required as per PCI and MCI guidelines.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding pharmacist requirements in hospitals. According to the Medical Council of India (MCI) and Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) guidelines, hospitals must have an adequate number of pharmacists based on the number of hospital beds. 

Step 2: Pharmacist requirement for hospitals up to 300 beds. - For hospitals with up to 300 beds, a minimum of 10 pharmacists is required. 
- For larger hospitals (above 300 beds), additional pharmacists are needed based on workload. 

Step 3: Why other options are incorrect. 
- (A) 8: Less than the recommended requirement for a 300-bed hospital. 
- (C) 15: Exceeds the minimum requirement, though may be needed for larger hospitals. 
- (D) 5: Insufficient for handling the pharmaceutical needs of 300 patients.

Answer 2

The question asks for the minimum number of pharmacists a hospital with up to 300 beds must have under Indian pharmacy staffing norms. Let's check each number against the standard.

1. 8: This number falls short of the norm set for hospitals in this bed range and would leave the pharmacy department understaffed for dispensing, ward supply, and record-keeping duties.
2. 10: This is the number fixed by hospital pharmacy staffing guidelines for institutions with up to 300 beds, covering round-the-clock dispensing, drug store management, and clinical support.
3. 15: This staffing level is meant for larger hospitals, generally above 300 beds, where patient load and prescription volume are higher.
4. 5: This is far too low even for a much smaller hospital, and would not meet the basic requirement of maintaining shifts and a functioning drug store for 300 beds.

Hospital pharmacy staffing norms fix the number at 10 pharmacists for institutions with up to 300 beds, which rules out the smaller and larger figures.

So the correct answer is 10.