Study on managing slow moving items in in-patient pharmacy unit, Pharmacy Department of Putrajaya Hospital

Background and objective:
The movement of slow moving items are depends on their usage. Items with slow movers are generally prone to be expired. Slow moving items are similar to dead stock items and are also important thing that should be taken care. The usage of items once in three months can be classified as slow moving items after observation by pharmacists within one year. The objectives of this study are to investigate the usage trend of slow moving items, determine the possible factor that affecting usage of slow moving items, and also find out alternative way to improve management of slow moving items.

Study design and methods:
Daily drug orders were reviewed and the data were collected for six months from 1st August 2009 until 31st January 2010. During six months period (1st August 2009 until 31st January 2010), the number of slow moving items were electronically analyzed and presented using pie chart according to the pharmacological system. The top five (5) slow moving items with highest total usage within six months was reported as bar-chart. Table represented the items that never have been used within six months, the nearly expired slow moving items that have been offered to the other hospital within six months, and also the expired slow moving items within six months.