Essentials for Inventory Management

Inventory Management (IM) is a systematic approach to ordering, receiving, storing, issuing and reordering drugs and other commodities. IM is a critical element in supply chain management which ensures the availability of the right products in the right place at the right time.

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Figure: Overview of Inventory Management in NTEP

Abbr: SDS: State Drug Store; DTC: District Tuberculosis Centre, NTEP: National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.

Under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), IM refers to the activities carried out by the officer-in-charge of logistics and includes the following:

1. Determination of Stock Status at the SDS and DTCs/ Subordinate Stocking Points: The pharmacist will determine the drug stock status of their store and of all the sub-units up to PHIs through Ni-kshay Aushadhi.
2. Review of Adequacy of Stock: The Pharmacist will analyse the adequacy of stocks on the basis of the available stock and estimated consumption as per the stocking norms.
3. Correction of Imbalances through Transfers: Based on the review of drug adequacy, the officer-in-charge will flag all the sub-stores that are significantly under or overstocked.
   1. The needs of sub-stores flagged as understocked will be addressed through the Additional Drug Request (ADR) or Drug Transfer Advice (DTA) mechanism.
   2. The stocks at the sub-stores flagged as overstocked or with close to expiry drugs will also be corrected by the DTA mechanism.
   3. These transfers will only be authorised by the State TB Officer (STO)/ District TB Officer (DTO)/ officer-in-charge and should be recorded in Ni-kshay Aushadhi.
4. Replenishment of Stock: The stocks at the stores are replenished on a quarterly basis, pursuant to the review and validation of the reports available in the Ni-kshay Aushadhi.

Resources

• Standard Operating Procedure Manual, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Assessment