MEDICINE AND MEDICAL

SUPPLIES
HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN
TUTOR; LUCY A .MSOFE
Learning Tasks
By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:
o Define the terms medicine, supplies , medical supplies.
o Explain the composition of medical supplies
o Define the term management.
o Explain importance of managing medicine and medical
supplies.
o Define supply chain in relation to medicines and medical
supplies
o List components of health supply chain management
o Explain components of health supply chain management
o Define selection in relation to medicines and medical supplies
o Explain importance of medicines and medical supplies
selection
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Medicines: is any substances in a pharmaceutical
product that is used to modify or explore physiological
systems or pathological states for the benefit of the
recipient.These are Pharmaceuticals in different
formulations includes:-Vaccines, pills/tablets, capsules,
solutions, injectable, ointments syrups, gargles, mouth
washes, eye/ear drops, powders(ORS)
Supplies These are physical, substantial, worth,
valuable, real, touchable and tangible regarded as Goods,
Materials,, Stores Inventories of which can health
products like pharmaceuticals, medicines, Equipment
/Apparatus, Dressings and Reagents
Medical supplies: Used for diagnostic and
supporting/aiding treatment or application of drugs in
the course of accomplishing medical treatment.
Composition of Medical Supplies
Medical supplies: Used for diagnostic and
supporting/aiding treatment or application of
drugs in the course of accomplishing medical
treatment. They compose of :
o General Supplies – like sundries( bandages,
cotton wool, Gause),syringes, catheters),X-ray
films
o Equipment : long lasting and short lasting
like Autoclaves, X-ray, machines thermometer
o Apparatus/Instruments: for example
glassware like test tube, triple stand)
Composition of Medical Supplies CONT...
Reagents: Chemicals used as diagnostic/lab
reagents
Management is the process of using or
combining resources effectively and
efficiently to achieve the desired or set goals.
Management is a discipline and has norms,
tradition ,ethics.
 Importance of Managing Medicines and Medical Supplies
Why medicines and medical supplies need to be managed?
Medicines/Pharmaceuticals and medical supplies need be
managed as they:-
 Medicines and medical supplies improve health thus avoid stock
outs as stock out may cause death or disabilities or suffering
 Availability of medicines and medical supplies promote community
trust and involvement in health facilities
 Be aware that medicines and medical supplies are expensive and
costly.
 Effective management medicines and medical supplies saves money.
 Medicines are poisons if not used properly.
 Medicines and medical supplies have expiry date.
 Medicines and medical supplies need special storage conditions
 Medicines and medical supplies are different from other consumer
products as they are not give based on the consumers choice
Health Supply Chain Management
 Supply Chain: The supply chain is the linked activities
associated with providing material from a raw material stage
to an end user as a finished good. Thus Supply chain activities
involve the transformation of natural resources, raw materials,
and components into a finished product that is delivered to the
end customer. In sophisticated supply chain systems, used
products may re-enter the supply chain at any point where
residual value is recyclable.
 It is a linked sequence of connected activities that handle
movement of medicines and medical supplies from the source
to the customer/consumer.
 This includes a number of activities that support the six rights.
Supply chain personnel have developed a systematic approach
to describing the activities of a supply chain or logistic system.
This is known as the Value chain
 It consists of all stages involved, directly or indirectly in
fulfilling a customer request.
SUPPLY

CHAIN MANAGEMENT CONT..
Supply chain management is the oversight of
materials, information, and finances as they
move in a process from supplier to manufacturer
to wholesaler to retailer to consumer.
Supply chain management involves coordinating
and integrating these flows both within and
among companies.
Therefore, SCM is an active link which ensures
that all processes, procedures and systems are
put in place to effectively link up all relevant
stakeholders to work together and guarantee
organizational success.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT CONT..
Is all about managing the reliable movement
of medicines and medical supplies from
source(could be manufacturer or supplier) to
users (here referred to consumers or
patients) at/with least expensive way
Components of Health Supply Chain
Management
The following are the components of the health
supply chain management The major activities;
o Serving customers
o Product selection
o Forecasting and procurement
o Inventory management
o Logistics management information systems (LMISs)
o Quality monitoring among the activities
o The logistics environment;
o policies
o adaptability
Explanations on Components of Health
Supply Chain Management
The following are explanations of the components
of health supply chain management:
Serving Customers. Each person who works in
supply chain or logistics must remember that he
or she selects, procures, stores, or distributes
products to meet customer needs. For example, a
storekeeper does not store drugs simply for the
purpose of storing; he or she stores products for
use in preventing or curing illnesses. The supply
chain ensures customer service by fulfilling the
six rights ie right medicines and medical supplies,
in the right quantity, in the right condition, to the
right place, at the right time and for the right cost
Components of Health Supply Chain
Management
Product Selection. In supply chain system,
products must be selected. This may be
responsibility of a national formulary and
therapeutics committee, pharmaceutical board,
board of physicians, or other government-appointed
group. Most countries have developed essential drug
lists patterned on the World Health Organization
(WHO) Model List.
Forecasting And Procurement. After products are
selected, the quantity required of each product must
be determined and procured. The forecasting
process estimates the quantities of the various
medicines and medical supplies that will be needed
for a specified time period
Components of Health Supply Chain
Management
Logistics Management Information Systems
Information. This is the motor that drives the supply
chain or logistics cycle. Without information, the logistics
system would not be able to run smoothly. It is important
to gather information about each activity in the system
and analyze that information to coordinate future actions.
For example, information about inventory levels and
consumption must be gathered to ensure that supplies
officer or manager knows how much more of a product to
procure.
Quality Monitoring. In the supply chain, notice how
quality monitoring appears between each activity of the
logistics cycle. This refers not only to the quality of the
product, but also to the quality of the work.
Components of Health Supply Chain
Management
Policies. Government regulations and
procedures affect all elements of the supply
chain system. Many governments have
established policies on the selection of
medical products, how items are procured,
when items are distributed, where and how
items are stored, and the quantities
customers receive (often called dispensing
protocols). Stakeholders should keep up-to-
date on current policies and carry them out
as specified.
Components of Health Supply Chain
Management
Adaptability. This is the supply chain
system’s ability to successfully obtain the
resources (either internal or external) that
are necessary to address changes in demand.
For example, as demand increases, the
logistics system needs more money to pay for
fuel for extra deliveries, hire new warehouse
workers, and train pharmaceutical and
clinical personnel. The program’s ability to
meet these needs (its adaptability) will have
an impact on the supply chain system.
Introduction to Selection of Medicines and Medical Supplies

Selection
o This is a process that involves reviewing the
prevalent health problems, identifying treatments of
choice, choosing individual medicines and dosage
forms, and deciding which medicines will be
available at each level of the health system.
o Is a process of deciding the limited types of
medicines and medical supplies that is required in a
health care setting for diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of majority of the population. They should
be available at all times in adequate amount,
efficacious, safe and affordable.
Importance of Medicines and Medical
Supplies Selection
 To understand the importance of Selection, it is better to first look at
how it is done;
 How selection is done
o Nationally, the selection of medicines is usually determined at the
national level by Ministry of health; normally determines the essential
medicines and dosage forms that are selected for use in a country
o At the hospitals this is done by Medicines and Therapeutic Committee
o Such selections ensure that available human and financial resources are
used wisely, providing a limited list of drugs and dosage forms that are
appropriate to the health problems of a country or community. The
involved people often choose generic drugs over brands that are usually
more expensive.
o These tasks require qualified health workers or other relevant personnel
with appropriate skills and attitudes
o Time for selection: It is carried out during annual planning process
where the list is derived or revised/ reviewed
IMPORTANCE OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES
 Importance of medicines and medical supplies selection
The well selected medicines and medical supplies lead to;
o Better supply management
Easier procurement, storage, and distribution
Lower stocks
Better quality assurance
Easier dispensing
o Better prescribing is achieved
Training more focused and therefore simpler
More experience with fewer medicines
Non-availability of irrational treatment alternatives
Reduction of antimicrobial resistance
Focused drug information
Better recognition of adverse drug reactions
Importance of medicines Cont...
Lower costs;
Lower prices
More competition
More patient use;
Focused education efforts
Reduced confusion and increased adherence to
treatment
Improved medicine availability
Criteria and Challenges Facing Selection
The following are criteria for selection of
medicines and medical supplies; for the facility
o Relevance to the pattern of prevalent diseases in
that area
o Medicine that satisfy the healthcare needs of the
majority of the population
o Proven efficacy and safety from clinical studies
data
o Assured quality and bioavailability (desirable
pharmacokinetic properties)
o The knowledge and skills of the healthcare worker
to administer.
o Stable during storage and transport.
Criteria and Challenges Facing Selection
When two or more similar medicines are available selection
will base on the one which is:-
o More stable
o Cost effective; Total cost of treatment and not unit cost;
Example, a vial can be cheaper but may need refrigeration,
syringes, and expert healthcare worker to administer.
o Appropriate for level of healthcare use; Example primary
healthcare select simple and easy to use medicines and
medical supplies
o Avoid confusion of names and dispensing; avoid including
same medicines with different strength, different medicines
with similar name.
o Possibilities for local manufacturer
o Availability as single compounds
o The drugs should be identified by the International Non-
proprietary Name (INN), sometimes referred to as the
Problems Facing Selection of Medicines
and Medical Supplies
The following are the problems facing selection of
medicines and medical supplies:
Failure to respect National Protocol; this may
bring about selection of medicines and medical
supplies which are not essential for the community
and nation at large; but also may lead to selection of
supplies which are not important for a particular level
of the facility i.e referral hospital/ regional hospitals,
district hospitals, health centers and dispensaries
Multitude of products used; this is crowding of
supplies in a facility which are used for similar
purpose
Problems Facing Selection of Medicines
and Medical Supplies
Transition to new products; this is about
innovation of new medicines and medical
supplies. They could be of the same effectiveness
or better than the older ones; however they could
not be cost effective or of uncertain safety.
Economical interests of the key people involved
may hinder proper selection procedures.
Lack of well trained personnel; key healthcare
workers or people involved in selection should
get trainings and updates in order for them to do
informed decisions on selection
Evaluation
What is the composition of medical supplies?
Why is it important to manage medicines and medical
supplies?
What is supply chain in relation to medicines and medical
supplies?
What are the components of health supply chain
management?
What explanations can you give on the components of
health supply chain management?
What is selection in relation to medicines and medical
supplies?
What is the importance of medicines and medical supplies
selection?