Drugs that are ordered for use in the health centre must be approved for use in the centre. Drugs in the health centre should be relevant to the pattern of endemic diseases as well as the type of services being provided in the health centre.

It is advisable to request drugs on a regular basis to prevent shortages. If drugs are not always available, patients may lose confidence in the health centre and will be discouraged from visiting it. It is important to make requests on a regular basis, as drugs will only be delivered when requested. The delivery time should be taken into consideration in ensuring that drugs are not in short supply.

Diagram 2 Importance of Requesting Regularly

Why does stock control work in some situations but not in others?