Essentials for Inventory Management
ContentInventory 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.
ImageFigure: 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The needs of sub-stores flagged as understocked will be addressed through the Additional Drug Request (ADR) or Drug Transfer Advice (DTA) mechanism.
- The stocks at the sub-stores flagged as overstocked or with close to expiry drugs will also be corrected by the DTA mechanism.
- 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.
- 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
Assessment
Answer 1
Answer 2
Answer 3
Answer 4
Correct answer
Correct explanation
Page id
Part of Pre-test
Part of Post-test
Which drug-stocking point/s are required to fill the QRPML?
SDS
DDS
TU
All the above
4
For the purpose of IM, all the drug-stocking points are required to fill and submit Quarterly/ Monthly Report on Programme Management & Logistics (QRPML).
Yes
Yes
Stocking Norms
ContentThe National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) strives to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drugs, and stocking norms have been developed by the Central TB Division (CTD) to help achieve this goal.
The drug stocks equivalent to 10 months of consumption, shall be maintained with implementing states.
The table shows the quantity of reserve stocks at each level at the start of the quarter (considering the receipt from one higher level).
Table: Stocking norms for First line anti-TB drugs for adults to be followed at each level Level Stock for Utilisation (Months) Reserve Buffer Stock (Months) Drug Requirements State Drug Store (SDS) 0 3 (Quarterly consumption / 3) X 10 – (existing stock in SDS including stocks at all districts at end of the quarter) District Drug Store (DDS) 0 3 (Quarterly consumption / 3) x 7 – (Existing stock in District TB Centre (DTC), TB Unit (TU) and Peripheral Health Institution (PHI) drugstores at end of the quarter) TU Drug Store 0 2 (Quarterly consumption / 3) x 4 – (existing stock in TU including PHI drug stores at end of the quarter) PHI 1 1 (Monthly consumption x 2) – (existing stock in PHI at end of the month) Based on the state stock availability and consumption, the stock is supplied from SDS to the district drug store to its TUs and then to the PHIs. This stocking pattern may be denoted as the 3-3-2-2 (SDS-District-TU-PHI) inventory-stocking norm, aggregating 10 months of inventory at the state level.
- At the start of the quarter, PHIs are supplied with a stock of 2 months (as shown in the table above)
- Every month, they are supplied with stock from the TU based on consumption, which helps to maintain 1 month reserve stock for utilization at the PHI
- This reserve stock helps the PHI to provide drugs if more patients are put on treatment in a particular month and to provide cover for delays in supplies from TU
- Thus, no patient is sent back due to a lack of drugs
- For the TU level to ensure that the PHIs have 1-month utilization stock plus 1-month reserves, it needs to have a reserve stock of 2 months at the beginning of the quarter
- In this way, the continuous supply of drugs is maintained
Paediatric Stocking Norms
Paediatric drug stocks equivalent to 10 months' consumption will also be kept, but paediatric boxes are not expected to be kept at PHI levels. The stocking of paediatric boxes has been limited to the TU level only.
The paediatric stocking pattern may be denoted as the 3-3-4 (SDS-District-TU) inventory stocking norm, aggregating 10 months of inventory at the state level.
Table: Stocking Norms for Second-line Anti-TB Drugs for Adults; to be Followed at Each Level. Level Stock for utilisation Reserve stock Drug requirements SDS 0 Months 3 months (Quarterly consumption/3) X 12 – (existing stock in SDS including stokes at all districts at the end of the quarter) DTC drug store 0 Months 3 months (Quarterly consumption/3) X 9 – (existing stock in DTC drug store including TU & HF drugs stores at the end of the quarter) TU drug store 0 Months 2 months (Quarterly consumption/3) X 6 – (existing stock in TU including HF drugs stores at the end of the quarter) Health facility 0 Months 2 months Reserve stoke in HF at the end of the month Treatment supporter 2 months 0 Months Two-monthly PWB under utilisation Figure: Stocking Norms for Second-line Anti-TB Drugs for Adults; to be Followed at Each Level
Abbr: TU: TB Unit; DTC: District TB Centre; SDS: State Drug Store; PWB: Patient-wise Box; HF: Health Facility.
Level
Stock for utilization
Reserve stock in months of full TPT courses
Drug requirements
Treatment supporter
One full TPT course per beneficiary
0 month
Full TPT course under utilization
HF drug store
0 month
2 month
Reserve stock in HF at end of the month
(2 x total TPT beneficiaries on Full TPT course for HF)
TU drug store
0 month
2 months
(Quarterly consumption/ 3) x 5 – (existing stock in TU including HF drug stores at end of the quarter)
DTC drug store
0 month
3 months
(Quarterly consumption/ 3) x 8 – (existing stock in DTC drug store including TU & HF drug stores at end of the quarter)
SDS
0 month
3 months
(Quarterly consumption/ 3) x 11 – (existing stock in SDS including stocks at all districts at end of the quarter)
Figure: Stocking norms for full TPT courses at various stocking points
Resources:
- NTEP Training Modules 5-9 for Programme Managers & Medical Officers, 2020.
- Standard Operating Procedures Manual for State Drug Stores, NTEP, 2012.
Assessment
Question Answer 1 Answer 2 Answer 3 Answer 4 Correct answer Correct explanation Page id Part of Pre-test Part of Post-test How much stock of first-line anti-TB drugs should be available at a PHI at any given moment? 1 2 3 4 2 2 months' stock of drugs must be available at the PHI level Which of the following stocking norms are implemented by the NTEP? 2-2-3-4 (SDS-District-TU-PHI) inventory-stocking norm 2-3-4 (SDS-TU-PHI) inventory stocking norm 3-3-4 (SDS-District-TU) inventory stocking norm None of the above 3 The paediatric stocking pattern may be denoted as the 3-3-4 (SDS-District-TU) inventory stocking norm, aggregating 10 months of inventory at the state level.
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