What is one primary purpose of a formulary in pharmacies?

The primary purpose of a formulary in pharmacies is to decide which drugs to keep in their inventory. A formulary serves as a list of medications that are approved for use within a particular healthcare setting, such as a hospital or retail pharmacy. This list is developed based on various factors, including the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the medications, as well as the specific needs of the patient population served by the pharmacy.

By establishing a formulary, pharmacies can ensure that they maintain a consistent stock of essential medications while managing their inventory effectively. This helps to optimize patient care by ensuring that the most appropriate and necessary medications are readily available, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing the overall efficiency of the pharmacy operations.

The other choices do not reflect the primary function of a formulary. For instance, while increasing the number of patients or providing training may be important to the overall operations of a pharmacy, these are not direct purposes of a formulary. Similarly, limiting the number of prescriptions filled is not an aim of a formulary, which focuses on the selection and management of medication inventory rather than restricting patient access to medications.