Drug supply chain management information system.

Abstract

In most developing countries, citizens always complain of drug stock-outs in hospitals and health centres. On the other hand, the ministry Health in Ugandan: for example, has employed companies like GREEN LABEL to incinerate expired drugs across all health units in the country. This implies that Uganda’s Health Units are not experiencing just drug stock outs but rather “Right drugs stock-outs”. Research was made through questionnaires, document reviewing and interviewing the health workers in four health units to determine the right solution to the problem. The research showed that the National Medical Stores (NMS) has introduced so far two methods to try eradicate the problem. First is the Push method which involves sending drugs directly to the H/C from NMS and the PULL method which allows health Centre (H/C) workers to make requests for the drugs they want. However, the problem still prevails due to a lot of paper work being employed to collect information, make drug requests, reports and making follow ups. Most interviewees embraced the development of the Drug Supply Chain Management Information System (DSCMIS) which appeared to them as the best solution. This is a web based system developed using PHP language to help link the databases with the three interface modules of NMS, Districts and H/Cs. This system was developed to enhance information flow which was the major reason for right drug stock-outs. In nutshell, there has been less usage of technology in drug distribution chain because many think it is expensive but on contrary the existing ways to collect data is inaccurate and more expensive in the long run. Therefore, with the DSCMIS the drug requests can be made easily, monitoring and follow up done remotely which reduces the transport expenses and losses due to extensive drug expiry.