The overall function of Hospital Therapeutic Committees is to establish a broad range of hospital based drugs related policies:

1. To select and make available drugs in accordance with the concept of essential drugs.

To devise procedures to procure the selected drugs as well as criteria and procedures for the procurement of drugs not officially selected, but required under limited unusual circumstances.

To estimate hospital drug requirements and administer the hospital drug budget accordingly.

2. To define standards for prescribing drugs and related practical requirements

- which type of health workers are allowed to prescribe what types of drugs,
- what quantities of each drug are allowed to be prescribed and dispensed per prescription,
- how to control and enforce adherence to the defined standards.

To introduce the use of and adherence to the Standard Treatment Guidelines of Tanzania (STG) and the National Essential Drug List (NEDLIT).

To implement generic prescribing in accordance with the National Drug Policy.

3. To make available to all prescribers and dispensers unbiased information on drugs; this information has to be produced and distributed.

To organise information campaigns on drugs for the general public.

To regulate commercial promotion of drugs inside and outside the hospital.

To inform hospital staff about all decisions taken by the Hospital Therapeutic Committee.

4. To conduct scientific studies to update STG, NEDLIT and ensure rational use of drugs.

To analyze periodically the morbidity and mortality statistics to determine changes in their patterns, requiring changes in rational drug therapies.

To undertake drug use reviews in order to examine the use of drugs in relation to their indications, contra-indications, duration of treatment, dosages, etcetera.

5. To develop and undertake teaching activities on the rational use of drugs and organise educational meetings in the area of diagnosis and treatment.

6. To develop and implement dispensing procedures and practises.

To initiate continuous training activities for dispensing personnel to ensure adequate dispensing practises and patient compliance with medication.

To design a policy assuring the quality of the drugs and the pharmaceutical services in the hospital.