Abstract
Despite much effort at improving availability of health commodities, stock-outs and expiries are still commonplace at service delivery centres. The success of any inventory management programme relies on the people undertaking it and there seems to be a missing link in the supply chain that could be related to the people tasked with inventory management at service delivery points. The study thus sought to assess whether the personnel’s knowledge, attitude, perceptions and practices are the missing link resulting in stock-outs and expires. The study employed a mixed method approach wherein quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were employed. The data collected sought to explore various aspects of the personnel including the training facility regarding inventory management, personal attitudes and, perceptions and practices towards certain inventory management aspects. Clearly it was found that personnel knowledge levels were very low, attitudes and perceptions veer in the negative whilst practices are not up to standard. This correlated to the availability of drugs and commodities at service delivery points.
Highlights
IntroductionThe health sector lags behind in the utilization of the benefits that could be derived from effective inventory management (Singh, 2006, Long, 2005)
Compared to the manufacturing, the health sector lags behind in the utilization of the benefits that could be derived from effective inventory management (Singh, 2006, Long, 2005)
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS Results from the field The most dominant designation in inventory management was Primary Care Nurse (PCN) with eleven respondents (55%), Registered General Nurse (RGN) constitute the second most dominant designation with three (15%) involved in inventory management activities, two Dispensary Assistants (DAs) which equates to 10% alluded to being involved in inventory management
Summary
The health sector lags behind in the utilization of the benefits that could be derived from effective inventory management (Singh, 2006, Long, 2005). Studies on stock-outs and expiries experienced in primary health care centres are indicative that inventory management is still an issue. Vol., Issue 5, May-2020 according to MHS (2012), there is a realization that personnel at the primary level lag behind in terms of the right skills, knowledge, and practice when undertaking inventory management. While the rollout of the has greatly improved efficiency and effectiveness in ordering and distribution of health commodities, problems of stock-outs and expiries still exist and seem to be growing. This is shown in systematic monitoring reports which reveal that information collected is not consistent with what is on the ground
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