Q.1 Which organization maintains the Model List of Essential Medicines?
World Health Organization (WHO)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Explanation - WHO maintains the Model List of Essential Medicines to guide countries in selecting medicines that meet priority health needs.
Correct answer is: World Health Organization (WHO)
Q.2 Which of the following is a key principle of rational drug use?
Using antibiotics for viral infections
Prescribing the cheapest drug regardless of efficacy
Prescribing drugs appropriate to clinical needs
Encouraging polypharmacy in all patients
Explanation - Rational drug use involves prescribing medications appropriate to the patient's clinical condition, dose, duration, and cost-effectiveness.
Correct answer is: Prescribing drugs appropriate to clinical needs
Q.3 What does the term 'essential medicine' refer to?
A medicine required for emergency use only
A medicine that meets the priority healthcare needs of the population
A medicine with the highest market price
Any drug produced in large quantities
Explanation - Essential medicines are those that satisfy the priority healthcare needs of the population, ensuring accessibility, safety, and efficacy.
Correct answer is: A medicine that meets the priority healthcare needs of the population
Q.4 Which factor is NOT considered in selecting essential medicines?
Disease prevalence
Efficacy and safety
Cost-effectiveness
Advertising budget of pharmaceutical companies
Explanation - Selection of essential medicines is based on clinical relevance, safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness, not marketing considerations.
Correct answer is: Advertising budget of pharmaceutical companies
Q.5 Polypharmacy is defined as:
Use of herbal supplements
Use of multiple drugs by a patient, often unnecessarily
Prescription of a single drug for multiple conditions
Over-the-counter self-medication only
Explanation - Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medications by a patient, which may increase the risk of adverse effects and drug interactions.
Correct answer is: Use of multiple drugs by a patient, often unnecessarily
Q.6 Which is a major consequence of irrational drug use?
Improved patient outcomes
Reduced healthcare costs
Increased antimicrobial resistance
Enhanced drug safety
Explanation - Irrational use of drugs, especially antibiotics, contributes to antimicrobial resistance, making infections harder to treat.
Correct answer is: Increased antimicrobial resistance
Q.7 What is the recommended source for unbiased drug information for prescribers?
Pharmaceutical company brochures
Peer-reviewed medical journals
Advertisements on television
Social media influencers
Explanation - Reliable, unbiased information for prescribers comes from peer-reviewed journals, official guidelines, and recognized medical texts.
Correct answer is: Peer-reviewed medical journals
Q.8 Which of the following is an example of a fixed-dose combination recommended by WHO?
Aspirin + Ibuprofen
Artemether + Lumefantrine
Paracetamol + Vitamin C
Amoxicillin + Ibuprofen
Explanation - WHO recommends certain fixed-dose combinations, such as Artemether + Lumefantrine for malaria treatment, to improve adherence and efficacy.
Correct answer is: Artemether + Lumefantrine
Q.9 Which practice is considered rational antibiotic use?
Using broad-spectrum antibiotics for all infections
Completing the full prescribed course
Stopping antibiotics when symptoms improve
Prescribing antibiotics without diagnosis
Explanation - Rational antibiotic use includes prescribing only when necessary and ensuring the full course is completed to prevent resistance.
Correct answer is: Completing the full prescribed course
Q.10 Generic drugs are preferred in essential medicine lists because they are:
Less effective
More expensive
Equally effective and cost-efficient
Produced only in small quantities
Explanation - Generic medicines are chemically equivalent to brand-name drugs, effective, safe, and usually more affordable.
Correct answer is: Equally effective and cost-efficient
Q.11 Which of the following should be avoided in prescribing to ensure rational drug use?
Evidence-based treatment
Polypharmacy without indication
Generic substitution
Appropriate dosing
Explanation - Avoiding unnecessary polypharmacy reduces adverse effects, interactions, and promotes rational drug use.
Correct answer is: Polypharmacy without indication
Q.12 The first essential medicines list was published by WHO in which year?
1977
1985
1995
2000
Explanation - WHO published its first Model List of Essential Medicines in 1977 to improve access to essential drugs globally.
Correct answer is: 1977
Q.13 Which of the following is NOT an objective of essential medicine lists?
Improving drug availability
Ensuring rational use
Promoting innovative but expensive drugs
Reducing healthcare costs
Explanation - Essential medicine lists aim for accessible, safe, and cost-effective drugs, not expensive innovations.
Correct answer is: Promoting innovative but expensive drugs
Q.14 Which method helps prevent irrational prescribing in hospitals?
Implementing drug formularies
Allowing unrestricted prescribing
Promoting brand-name drugs only
Encouraging self-medication
Explanation - Hospital drug formularies guide prescribers towards rational, evidence-based medication choices.
Correct answer is: Implementing drug formularies
Q.15 Which of the following is a consequence of over-prescription of medicines?
Reduced healthcare burden
Lower drug resistance
Increased adverse drug reactions
Improved patient compliance
Explanation - Over-prescription increases risk of side effects, drug interactions, and may not improve patient outcomes.
Correct answer is: Increased adverse drug reactions
Q.16 The term 'therapeutic equivalence' refers to:
Drugs with identical brand names
Drugs with same clinical effect and safety profile
Drugs made by the same manufacturer
Any over-the-counter drugs
Explanation - Therapeutic equivalence means two drugs produce the same clinical outcomes and safety, allowing substitution if needed.
Correct answer is: Drugs with same clinical effect and safety profile
Q.17 Which approach reduces the risk of antimicrobial resistance in communities?
Widespread use of antibiotics in livestock
Prescribing antibiotics only when indicated
Encouraging self-medication
Using multiple antibiotics together without diagnosis
Explanation - Rational prescribing and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics helps prevent antimicrobial resistance.
Correct answer is: Prescribing antibiotics only when indicated
Q.18 Which category of drugs is most commonly included in essential medicines lists?
High-cost specialty drugs
Drugs for priority diseases
Cosmetic medications
Experimental drugs only
Explanation - Essential medicines lists prioritize drugs that address major health burdens and common diseases in a population.
Correct answer is: Drugs for priority diseases
Q.19 Rational use of medicines requires that patients receive:
The cheapest available drug only
Multiple drugs to cover all possible diseases
Medications appropriate to clinical needs, dose, and duration
Only branded medications
Explanation - Rational use ensures safety, efficacy, and adherence by prescribing correctly and appropriately.
Correct answer is: Medications appropriate to clinical needs, dose, and duration
Q.20 Which of the following is an example of irrational drug use?
Prescribing antibiotics for viral infections
Using evidence-based treatment guidelines
Adjusting doses according to age and weight
Using generic drugs when available
Explanation - Using antibiotics when not indicated is irrational and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
Correct answer is: Prescribing antibiotics for viral infections
Q.21 Essential medicines lists are most useful for:
Healthcare planning and procurement
Promoting luxury pharmaceuticals
Advertising new drugs
Self-medication guidance
Explanation - They help governments and institutions prioritize, budget, and ensure availability of critical medicines.
Correct answer is: Healthcare planning and procurement
Q.22 What is a key strategy to promote rational drug use among prescribers?
Continuing medical education and guidelines
Allowing unrestricted pharmaceutical marketing
Encouraging self-medication
Prescribing drugs based on patient demand
Explanation - Education and adherence to evidence-based guidelines ensure prescribers make informed, rational decisions.
Correct answer is: Continuing medical education and guidelines
Q.23 Which statement is true about essential medicines in low-resource settings?
They are less effective than branded drugs
They prioritize cost-effectiveness and availability
They include only experimental drugs
They focus on luxury medicines
Explanation - In low-resource settings, essential medicines ensure access to affordable, effective, and safe treatments.
Correct answer is: They prioritize cost-effectiveness and availability
Q.24 Which of the following contributes to irrational drug use in hospitals?
Strict adherence to formularies
Unsupervised prescribing and polypharmacy
Use of clinical treatment guidelines
Continuing medical education for staff
Explanation - Lack of supervision and unnecessary polypharmacy can lead to irrational drug use and adverse patient outcomes.
Correct answer is: Unsupervised prescribing and polypharmacy