Last week at work - Distribution Department

Distribution is the heart of the pharmacy in the hospital, where medications are distributed to their relevant departments, where drugs are label and stored, where medications are ordered from pharmaceutical companies and where continuous supply of medications to the wards are ensured.

This is where very commonly used drugs are stored, for example, paracetamol.

These portable scanners are brought to wards for pharmacy assistants to record what is required to be supplied to the wards. The scanners are then brought to the distribution department to verify quantity of drugs needed, and indicates where they can be obtained.

The required medications are then collected from the racks, and packed into boxes like the one in the bottom left hand corner of the photograph to be sent to the wards. Each rack is label in running order, like a library.

This is where less frequently used drugs are stored.

The medications are first sorted out and counted, and the identity and quantity of the items are checked against the supply form obtained from the system on a daily basis. Expiry dates are also noted and checked.

The barcode at the top right hand corner of forms corresponding to each medication is scanned...

... by the scanner at the bottom right hand corner, whose information will be transmitted into the computer system.

Name of medication and quantity received will be showed on the screen, and pharmacy assistants check against the medication boxes and their order forms.

The shelves then turn to where the particular medication is to be stored, and pharmacy assistants pull out the rack to place the medications to be stored.

This computerized storage system greatly reduce manual work, human error and increase efficiency greatly. Pharmacy assistants perform the daily routine, and pharmacist are notified when special cases arise, for example, when a rare medication is requested, or when the pharmacy assistants face problems and need to consult a pharmacist.