Final answer:
The pharmacy must register with an approved program to dispense Clozaril due to its severe potential side effects. The FDA's strict medical regulations help protect patients from unsafe drugs, but can also delay treatments and strain small pharmaceutical companies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medication that a pharmacy is required to register with an approved program in order to dispense is C) Clozaril. Clozaril, also known as clozapine, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia. Because of its potential for serious side effects, such as agranulocytosis (a severe drop in white blood cells), the drug is dispensed only through a restricted program known as the Clozapine Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. This ensures that patients receive regular blood tests to monitor for these side effects and that pharmacies and healthcare providers are certified for safe dispensing and monitoring.
The discussion around the regulation of medicines brings to light two groups - the winners and losers in terms of strict medical regulations. The winners are the patients who are protected from unsafe drugs thanks to rigorous FDA oversight. However, the losers in this system could include patients who have a dire need for new treatments that are delayed due to lengthy and costly drug development processes, or small pharmaceutical companies that struggle to meet the financial demands of the regulatory landscape.