Final answer:
Access to controlled substances in a pharmacy is strictly limited to pharmacists and authorized personnel, who follow strict regulations and protocols to ensure patient safety and prevent misuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The access to the pharmacy stock of controlled substances in an institutional pharmacy is highly regulated to prevent misuse and diversion. Typically, only pharmacists and some authorized pharmacy personnel have access to these medications. These professionals must adhere to rigorous regulations and protocols to manage these substances, including secure storage, accurate inventory tracking, and proper dispensing practices. The oversight is designed to prevent incidents like medication theft and substitution, which can lead to serious patient harm, as highlighted by the case of the healthcare worker who caused patients to test positive for HIV due to tampering with syringes. Pharmacists play a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and are entrusted with the responsibility of carefully managing the pharmacy's controlled substances.