E-drug: Medical Stores management system software (cont'd)
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Dear E-druggers,
The renewed attention on E-drug for inventory control software for
Central Medical Stores is noted with satisfaction.
In 1997 the dutch consortium of ETC-Crystal, CHD Consultants, and
Q-Ray was asked to provide technical assistance to the Pharmacie
Populaire du Mali (PPM), the french equivalent of Central Medical
Stores in Mali, as part of a support programme funded by the
government of the Netherlands. Computerisation of the core
operations of PPM was one of the major components of the
programme.
After an extensive study of PPM's current and future business
processes together and a thorough review of available commercial
software packages, the decision was made to develop tailor-made the
software. Q-Ray, the dutch ICT partner in the consortium, developed a
software package called 'Syst�me Int�gr� de la Gestion des
M�dicaments' (SIGMED), a system which has been in operation since
2000. Requirements of the end user have been central in the
development and operationalization of SIGMED.
SIGMED operates under Windows NT, as at the time of development
only this platform provided the networking capabilities that were
needed, while at the same time it is a very user friendly and affordable
platform. SIGMED works with the SQL 6.5 database, and its front-end
software is written in Visual Basic 5.
In its current configuration SIGMED performs all necessarily functions
in the supply of drugs and medical materials:
- Tender management
Processing of suppliers data
Automatic supplier ranking
Procurement
Automatic generation of purchase orders
Monitoring purchases
- Inventory control and management
Reception
Location management
Distribution to zonal stores
Stock taking
Writing off of stocks
Warning of expiring drugs
- Sales
Automatic generation of picking list based on FEFO principle
Automatic creation of invoices
SIGMED is linked and compatible with the SAARI financial software
package, which is based on the accounting system commonly used in
the majority of francophone African countries (SYSCOA).
Special attention was given to SIGMED's Management Information
Module, which generates large amounts of data on historical
consumption, sales per type of product and/or customer, product
information (suppliers & prices), and on outstanding orders. Use is
made of the ICD classification. Users are able to track and trace a
particular product at any time, a mechanism which has already proven
to be effective in reducing costs.
SIGMED is currently functioning in the French language. Although it is
tailor-made for the PPM in Mali, it is being developed now to become
available for a broad range of institutions and countries in the world.
Next steps for SIGMED, and which are expected to be finalised before
the end of 2001, are a translation into English, upgrading the database
software to SQL 2000 (which also runs under Windows 2000) and
the front-end software to Visual Basic 6. Planned is also to make
SIGMED compatible with other accounting packages commonly used
in developing countries.
As a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is not likely to work for any software
solution, some customization will be necessary when applying the
package in other situations. However, one of the main features of
SIGMED will be a high level of independence of users from the
software developer. Given SIGMED's open structure (choice of
platform, database and front-end software), adaptations and
maintenance will be relatively easy to accomplish by local
professionals.
Because of its user-friendliness and flexibility, SIGMED is expected to
be a powerful instrument in managing drug supplies.
For further information please contact:
Gert Kaasschieter
Q-Ray
Wageningen, The Netherlands
tel: +31-317-472999
fax: +31-317-472900
e-mail: kaasschieter@q-ray.nl
Rene Dubbeldam
ETC-Crystal
Leusden, The Netherlands
tel: +31-33-494.3086
fax: +31-33-494.0791
e-mail: dubslob@etcnl.nl
Hilbrand Haak
Consultants for Health and Development
Leiden, The Netherlands
tel: +31-71-523.2052
fax: +31-71-523.3592
e-mail: haakh@chd-consultants.nl
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