Drug Inventory Management a Case Study of University of Nairobi Health Services

Abstract

Academic institutions in Kenya have been concerned about their students, employees and dependants welfare as they have been providing health facilities to them. Currently, the University of Nairobi is operating ten clinics which are administered from the main campus in order to serve the growing student and staff population. Although the university is spending huge amounts of funds on the purchases of drugs and medicines, (for example, the amount spent in 1992 was well over 26 million), disatisfaction has been expressed regarding the services offered. This dissatisfaction can be partly attributed to drug shortages among others. This study was undertaken against a background of increasing public concern over the availability of drugs, which was evident by the number of complaints raised, and the increasing cases of drug shortages experienced country-wide. In this study, an attempt was made to look into the major causes of drug inventory problems at University of Nairobi Health Services as a case study. The results of the study revealed that the problem of drug shortage is due to lack of finances, unreliable suppliers and lack of update, record s among other things