Development of Pharmaceutical Inventory Management Using Information Technology

Abstract

Background: The Drug Inventory Unit identified a problem of insufficient drug storage space. Therefore, data visualization was applied to analyze the ABC-VED matrix and calculate the required drug storage space to improve medical inventory management.

Objective: 1) To develop a medical supply management system using the ABC-VED matrix combined with storage space calculations through information technology. 2) To evaluate pharmaceutical management efficiency indicators, including average stock value, average inventory turnover rate, stock coverage range, and the percentage of dead stock value.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted from 1 October 2024 to 31 July 2025 using data from the hospital inventory system. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, value, mean) and inferential statistics (paired t-test) were used for data analysis.

Results: Based on ABC-VED matrix analysis and data visualization, no drug storage space insufficiency was found after system development. Regarding drug management efficiency, the paired t-test comparing pre- and post-development data showed that the average drug inventory value ± SD was 75.80 ± 2.26 million baht, significantly lower than before development (p-value <0.05). The drug turnover rate ± SD was 0.89 ± 0.05, and the average inventory period was 22.00 ± 1.48 days, both meeting target criteria. The percentage of inactive drug value ± SD was 0.97 ± 1.48%, which did not meet the target criteria.

Conclusion: This research has applied data visualization to manage pharmaceutical inventory, storage space requirements calculations to enhance the efficiency of storage space management, which is different from the problem of insufficient storage space before the development. The efficiency of management remains consistent with indicators.