Assessment of Knowledge, Practices, and Challenges of Pharmaceuticals Inventory Control Among Pharmacy Professionals Working in Selected Public Health Facilities of West Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Good pharmaceutical inventory control enables health facilities (HFs) to provide complete health care by ensuring the availability of safe, effective, and affordable pharmaceuticals and related supplies of the required quality, inadequate quantity, at the required place and at all times. It boosts patients’ trust in the HFs and motivates working staff. However, it needs well-trained and skilled professionals. The aim of the current study was, therefore, assessing knowledge, practice, and challenges of pharmacy professionals conducting inventory control in selected public health facilities of West Arsi Zone, Oromia regional state for the year 2016 to 2018. Method: A mixed-methods study design was used to assess pharmacy professionals’ knowledge, skills, and challenges in applying inventory management methods. A semi-structured questionnaire was implemented for quantitative, whereas an open-ended question was employed for key informants (KIs) to explore qualitative data. Result: Ninety percent of pharmacy professionals knew about VEN analysis concepts and 70% about ABC analysis. However, none of them had a concept of FSN and XYZ analysis. Among the respondents who knew the concept, 75% had gained knowledge through formal training and 10% of them learned from on-job training. When they asked about the methods of inventory control, 60% responded as they did not hear about it. Of those who said “Yes” on being asked to mention at least 1 method of it, 80% could not able to correctly mention the methods used in inventory control. However, 44%, 62.5%, and 75% of respondents had practiced ABC, VED, and ABC-VED matrix analysis respectively. The challenges that prevented these professionals from practicing pharmaceutical inventory control in their HFs were grouped into price-related, training-related, human resource-related, and managerial-related factors. Conclusion: Inventory control is the heart of the pharmaceutical supply system. Without its healthy action, HFs’ goal attainment will not be viable. Problems of sick pharmaceutical inventory control are directly related to a lack of knowledge and appreciation of it by the concerned bodies. The current finding revealed almost all pharmacy professionals included in the study had little knowledge about how to manage their inventories. Managers’ unwillingness to cooperate and facilitate necessary resources prevented the professionals from doing inventory control.

A Pilot Study on the Assessment of the Knowledge, Practice, and Challenges of Pharmaceutical Inventory Management among Community Pharmacists

“…[27] This result shows no relation between the study results of Jobira, where 15% of the overall respondents are unaware of the inventory management tools. [21] Studies show that a combination of the ABC-VED or XYZ-FSN matrix often had a better impact on the management of the inventory than using a single method. [10,11] The drug procurement methods and frequency of emergency purchasing were all similar to one another.…”

“…[30] And based on the study conducted in Ethiopia, the challenges that are quoted as a theme are taken as an important challenges for this study such as managerial role, price and budgeting, poor training and knowledge, and inadequate human resources to work. [21] It is a crucial process to plan, organize, lead, and process management-related work with fewer human resources. Studies show that 13.6 % of pharmacists spend time in managerial roles like administration, organizing, or planning.…”

“…[20] Poor inventory management challenges the availability of essential drugs and shows the pharmacist's insufficiency to provide for the customer's needs. [21] 2. RELATED WORKS 1.…”

“…Challenges preventing professionals from practicing pharmaceutical inventory control included price-related, training-related, human resourcerelated, and managerial-related factors. [21] 2. Gizaw T, Jemal A, (2021) the study aimed to identify items requiring managerial control and evaluate the ABC-VED-FNS matrix for Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (EPSA) inventory control.…”

Inventory Management Practices of Small-Scale Pharmacies in the Selected Towns in Cavite: A Marketing Perspective

“…In addition, the core of the pharmaceutical supply chain is inventory control. The goals of health institutions cannot be achieved without beneficial action (Jobira et al, 2022). Moreover, Kefale and Shebo (2019) revealed that inadequate inventory management in pharmacies affects the availability of essential drugs, with an overall availability of 76.3%.…”