Define "formulary" in the context of pharmacy.

A formulary, in the context of pharmacy, is specifically a list of medications that are approved for use within a particular healthcare system, such as a hospital or insurance plan. This list is curated based on various factors, including the medication's efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The formulary helps ensure that patients have access to essential medications while promoting the use of therapies that have been shown to provide the best outcomes in the given population.

By focusing on specific medications that are included, a formulary assists healthcare providers in making informed decisions regarding patient care, as it may also include guidelines for prescribing certain medications over others based on the system's formulary policies. The inclusion and exclusion criteria often reflect the best practices and recommendations from clinical guidelines and expert opinions.

Other options, such as a comprehensive list of all drugs available in the market or lists of over-the-counter medications, do not accurately capture the targeted and regulatory purposes of a formulary. Similarly, while some controlled substances might be part of a formulary, the term itself is more focused on approved medications within specific healthcare settings rather than just regulatory lists.