Course on the Management of Drugs at Health Centre Level

Please answer all questions.
Read instructions at the beginning of each section carefully.

Participant’s Name: ____________________________________________________

Participant’s Profession: _________________________________________________
(eg, Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse, Medical Assistant, Clinical Officer, Other.)

Participant’s Station: ____________________________________________________

Time Allowed: 1 Hour

Section A

Put a check (√) against the correct answer for each question.

1. The Bamako Initiative is:

a) A strategy that seeks the involvement of local communities in financing and managing their health care needs.

b) A procedure for managing health care needs.

c) A decision taken by the United Nations.

d) A drug supply system.

2. Drugs must be properly managed because:

a) They are expensive.
b) Availability must be guaranteed.
c) Waste must be minimized.
d) They must be used within a certain period.

3. An expiration date indicates:

a) The date on which the drug was manufactured.

b) The date that one may not use the drug again.

c) The period when the manufacture can no longer guarantee the quality, safety and potency of a drug.

d) The date before which drugs become ineffective.

4. FIFO means:

a) First in first out.
b) First invoiced first out.
c) Free items first out.
d) Fill in forms only.

5. Bin cards are:

a) The same as stock cards.
b) Tools for the monitoring of stock movements.
c) Usually on stiff cardboard paper.
d) Kept in a filing cabinet.

6. The following entries should be made on the bin card:

a) The name of the patient.
b) The quantity of drug received.
c) The quantity of drug requested.
d) The quantity of drug issued.

7. Internal drug return is the:

a) Internal return of drugs to the patient.
b) Internal return of drugs to another pharmacy.
c) Return of drugs to the central store in case of expiration, damage or spoiled items.
d) Return of surplus items only.

8. A prescription should include the following:

a) The name of the prescriber.
b) The name of the health unit.
c) The signature of the prescriber.
d) The name of the patient.

9. When tablets/capsules are being dispensed for a patient:

a) Put all tablets/capsules in one envelope.
b) Use clean fingers.
c) Use a clean spatula.
d) Put each type of tablet/capsule in separate envelopes.

10. When liquid medicines are being dispensed for a patient:

a) Mix all liquids in one bottle.
b) Pour each liquid medicine in a separate bottle.
c) Use clean bottles.
d) The bottle you use does not matter.

11. Labels must be made on:

a) All envelopes before the tablets are packed in.
b) All bottles before liquids are put in.
c) All envelopes after tablets are put in.
d) None of the above.

12. A properly labeled container should have the following:

a) Name of the patient.
b) Name of the drug.
c) The strength and dose to be taken.
d) All of the above.

13. Instructions to the patient on the use of the medicine should be given:

a) In English.
b) In the language understood by the patient.
c) If it is at all necessary.
d) Until the patient understands.

Section B

Put a check (√) against the answer which does not agree with the others.

14. Stocktaking should be done in the pharmacy:

a) Once every four years.
b) Each time there is a burglary.
c) At least once every year.
d) Anytime it becomes necessary.

15. The doors of the pharmacy must:

a) Be transparent so that patients can see through.
b) Have a metal bar across with padlocks.
c) Have locks that are functioning well.
d) Have metallic door shutters.

16. The pharmacy must be handed over to another staff when going on:

a) Maternity leave.
b) Sick leave.
c) Annual leave.
d) Lunch break.

17. If there is a burglary in the pharmacy, carry out the following:

a) Do not enter the pharmacy.
b) Make a written report to the head of the health facility.
c) Do not inform the police because this is an internal matter.
d) An inventory of the store is undertaken.

Section C

Put a “Y” (for “Yes”) against statements that you agree with, and an “N” (for “No”) against those you do not agree with.

____ 18. Supervision of the pharmacy can be done by anybody.

____ 19. The supervisory team should give on-the-spot training to the dispensing staff.

____ 20. When handing over the pharmacy to another staff, take away any money in your keeping.

____ 21. Generic products are normally cheaper than brand name products because there are no patents to protect.

____ 22. Drugs that have expired can still be used for some period.

____ 23. The abbreviation “TDS” means twice daily.

____ 24. Buffer stock is the same as security stock.

____ 25. First in first out is equivalent to first expiry first out.

____ 26. Request indicator (reorder level) is the lowest stock level of a given drug before an order is placed for new stock.

____ 27. A bin card is good for recording stock balances.

____ 28. It is necessary to be familiar with brand names as opposed to generic names of drugs.

Section D

Solve the following problems.

29. The table below is an example of a daily use record from Kawale Health Centre. Review the entries and comment on the entry on 20/6, giving several possible reasons for the shortage.

Acetylsalicylic acid tablets 3000 mg

30. The following information was extracted from the bin card/stock card for paracetamol tablets at the pharmacy store.

Paracetamol 500 mg tablets; tin or container or box/1,000 tablets

Monthly consumption for proceeding six months is as follows:

Calculate: Assume a lead (deliver y) time of 3 months.

The average monthly consumption:

The quantity you would request from your central store (HAS/CMS) in the following situations:

a) Balance in Stock: 4
b) Balance in Stock: 40 (all expiry date: Dec. 2004)
c) Balance in Stock: 6

Give possible reasons for the apparent large stock with limited shelf life (near expiration) in the situation (b) above.