What is the primary reason hospital pharmacies provide medications in a 24-hour supply?

The primary reason hospital pharmacies provide medications in a 24-hour supply is to reduce the risk of medication theft. When medications are distributed in smaller quantities, especially in secure environments like hospitals, the opportunity for theft is minimized. By limiting the amount of accessible medication at any given time, pharmacies help to safeguard against the potential loss of valuable or controlled substances. This practice also promotes better inventory management and helps to ensure that medications are available for patient care without excess stock that might be susceptible to misuse or theft.

While compliance with government regulations and the need for timely medication delivery are important considerations in pharmacy operations, these factors are secondary to the critical safeguarding role of limiting medication access. Accommodating pharmacy staffing limitations could factor into how medications are dispensed, but the primary focus remains on protecting the medications themselves.