Inventory management: a proposal for a differentiated pharmacy

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.201337197104

Abstract

In an increasingly competitive market, the management of medication supplies is needed to avoid the high costs of products,
reduce the total capital invested by the company, and avoid a lack of products to clients. This study aims to bring
a practical-theoretical approach regarding the management of medication supplies, having as an example a pharmacy of
the Health Care Service (SAS). The methodology consisted in three parts: first a literature search was done to construct
the theoretical model, then we did a case study in the SAS pharmacy and in the third stage we examined proposals for
improvements in order to reach a quality management of medicine supplies for offering the population access to safe and
effective medicines. At the pharmacy studied, there was not procedures standardization, causing a lack of technical criteria,
which precluded the calculations required for quality inventory control, and this made necessary to count the existing
products before beginning the study. This study proposed two proposals for inventory management: the form of shelves,
which are more simple tools requiring fewer expenses to be executed, and material management program. There should
be rules for standard operating procedures for both students and staff and the establishment of the division of labor with
appropriate responsibilities for each.