Eficiência na distribuição de medicamentos em hospitais: método para identificação e avaliação de ineficiências

Abstract

The management of the internal drug supply chain in hospitals has attracted considerable attention recently with the advent of the COVID19 pandemic in hospitals. Medicines are a kind of unique product. The main characteristics of the drugs are their shorter shelf life and a high level of service, which causes great difficulty for hospitals in managing their supply chain. This work aims to propose a method that can reduce the inefficiencies resulting from the internal distribution of medications in the hospital chain, contributing to reducing and adequacy of medication stocks and improving availability, ensuring patient care. The theme was revised to identify relevant methodological aspects, possible approaches commonly adopted, main differences between studies and protocols, main challenges, and knowledge gaps. The protocol used for the review was the PRISMA (Prefered Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Based on this review, qualitative research based on the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was chosen, having as an artifact the proposal of a management framework for the internal chain of drug distribution in hospitals using RFID technology (Radio Frequency Identification). The proposal intends to provide step-by-step guidance for its implementation in public and private hospitals, aiming to reduce drug waste and disruptions in the flow of the chain. The work consists of a preliminary section on the purpose of the study, definition, a section with the framework proposal, implementation process, evaluation of the proposal by a group of experts, and finally, the final considerations. The group expert evaluated the results of this proposal in a presentation and discussion meeting about the method. The results show that the proposal is feasible and presents itself to organize hospital supply and reduce management costs in planning purchases and distribution of medications. The proposal also presented itself as a possible way to include hospitals in a sustainable process adapted to the circular economy.