Transfer of responsibility for drug inventories to materials management: the legal perspective.

In recent years hospitals have been creating materials management departments to effect cost controls and to increase efficiency. In some instances, it has been suggested that responsibility for maintenance of drug inventories should be shifted from the director of pharmacy to the director of materials management. Legal aspects of this shift in responsibility may preclude such changes. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals' Standards clearly state that this responsibility is to rest with the pharmacy service. State law may also bear on the issue. Both state pharmacy acts and board of pharmacy regulations may contain provisions which are relevant to the issue. Pennsylvania law is used as an example of the points to be evaluated when considering the question. Clearly, this responsibility must continue to fall within the jurisdiction of the director of pharmacy.