Abstract:
Main disadvantages of an individual prescription order drug distribution system are lack of control of the amount of drug dispensed and no well defined system of returing the unused. These led to a wasteful loss due to an unused excess stock and might be harmful to the patient. The ojective of this study was to evaluate whether 4 combined strategies were effective in improving drug distribution system in Pramongkutklao Hospital. The 4 strategies were (1) changing in dispensing frequency, (2) setting up the method to return the unused drug, (3) setting the floor stock drug list and (4) joint responsibility of pharmacists and nurses in taking care of floor stock drugs. Evaluation was based on differences in the numbers of items and the cost of (1) unused excess tock, (2) expired or deteriorated drugs and (3) returned drugs prior to and after 4 strategies were applied. One medical ward and one surgical ward were studied during July 1996-March 1997. Excessive stock were decreased by 353 items out of 626 items (56.39%) with the decreased value of 931,648.55 baht (78.49%) in medical ward and 106 items from 277 items (38.27%) with the decreased value of 129,547.15 baht (57.81%) in surgical ward. Among these stock, the expired or deteriorated drugs were found and discarded 148 items with the value of 70,615.70 baht and 35 items with the value of 14,614.90 baht in the medical and surgical wards, respectively. The returned drugs could be reused 234 items with the value of 394,232.80 baht and 154 items with the value of 41,390.30 baht in the medical and surgical wards, respectively. The use of 4-integrated strategies in the 2 studied wards can improve drug distribution system by reducing 459 items with the value of 1,061,195.70 baht of the total of unused excess stock, getting rid of all expired or deteriorated drugs and reusing 388 items with the value of 435,623.10 baht of the total of returned drugs. This operation effectively improved drug distribution system.