Development of Medical supply inventory management of Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital, Sahatsakhan Hospital District, Kalasin

Abstract

 Objectives: To investigate the situation, develop processes, and evaluate the efficiency of medical inventory management in Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals (SHPHs), Sahatsakhan District, Kalasin Province.

Methodology: This Participatory Action Research (PAR) was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 across 5 phases: situational analysis, planning and design, implementation of the Smart Drug Inventory Application, operation, and evaluation. The sample consisted of 27 inventory management personnel from 8 SHPHs. Research tools included four inventory performance indicators, interviews, and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, Chi-square, and content analysis.

Results: Prior to development, key issues included inefficient data recording, excess stock levels, and frequent stockouts. The development process emphasized stakeholder participation in identifying solutions and utilizing the Smart Drug Inventory Application for real-time feedback. Post-intervention results showed statistically significant improvements across all indicators. The inventory turnover rate for drugs decreased from 3.29 to 2.31 months ($p=0.049$), and for non-drug supplies from 6.27 to 4.77 months ($p=0.013$). Furthermore, stockouts, inventory data discrepancies, and the value of expired supplies significantly decreased ($p<0.05$).

Conclusion: Integrating PAR with the Smart Drug Inventory Application significantly enhanced medical inventory management efficiency. This approach fostered teamwork and established a systematic, standardized management model at the district level.