Question

1. Describe drug product procurement and inventory management systems in the hospital pharmacy.

Answer 1

Answer. Drug procurement means the buying of medicines at cost effective rates and in bulk quantities according to the requirements or treatment procedures running on everyday basis and on emergency basis. A pharmacy procurement officer takes the charge for this work. He stays in touch with almost all the doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff members to know about the new or additional requirements. He also builds relationships with suppliers and the distributors for heavy discounts and quality products. Then he place the order by keeping in mind about the planned or the fixed budget. The requisitions only will be approved and forwarded if they satisfy the allocated budget head department. The officer keeps on maintaining the stocks, so as to be available for anyone with every needed medicines at cost effective prices.

Drug inventory means to organise the medicines in a proper alphabetical order in a fixed place like in a store, etc thereby keeping the record of their purchases(all with bills), stock entries, and further demand lists. These officers have the management of using emergency stock only during stock-out situations. They keep the record of purchases, bills and the proper procurement method through which this was done.