Process flow for Supply Chain Management

Regular, accurate information on consumption, drug stock and supplies at the Peripheral Health Institute (PHI), Tuberculosis Units (TUs), districts and state levels are essential for timely drug stock indenting and distribution at all levels.

The anti-TB drugs are mostly procured centrally, except for very few drugs, and supplied according to a stocking norm to various level stocking units, based on indenting.

These indentings are further dependent on the certain levels of stocks predefined for each level.

The overall idea is to ensure a working and a buffer stock at each level for ensuring uninterrupted drug delivery to the beneficiaries. 

Drug Distribution Process

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Figure: Drug Distribution Process

Abbr: CTD: Central TB Division; GMSD: Government Medical Supplies Depot; CMSS: Central Medical Services Society; SDS: State Drug Store; DDS: District Drug Store; TU: TB Unit; PHC: Public Health Centre; PHI: Peripheral Health Institute.

Indenting

Indenting is a process in which the requisition for stocks is submitted by the sub-store to the parent store or to the supplier in order to initiate the process of drug supply from the parent store to the sub-store. 

The stock management up to the TU level, including transfer to PHI, is handled by Ni-kshay Aushadhi software, while PHI to the patient is handled by Ni-kshay.

Offline Indenting

• The PHIs submit their drug request to the TU through offline indenting modes such as email, phone, etc.
• On receipt of the offline indent, the respective TU releases drugs to the PHI through the TU login in Ni-kshay Aushadhi using "Dispatch without drug request”  under the Issue/ Dispatch module.​

Online Indenting

• Online indenting is the term used when the indent request is placed through the Ni-kshay Aushadhi software.
• The supply of drugs from the central to the state level and further to districts and TUs is facilitated through online indenting.

Resources

• Standard Operating Procedure Manual Procurement & Supply Chain Management, CTD, MoHFW, India, 2018.
• Procurement, Supply Chain Management & Preventive Maintenance, Module 6, CTD, MoHFW, India.

Assessment