Stock-taking

Management of medicine stocks in a hospital or any other step of a delivery chain.
Good distribution practices suggest the following principles for stock-taking:

  • Periodic stock reconciliation should be performed by comparing the actual and recorded stocks.
  • All significant stock discrepancies should be investigated as a check against inadvertent mix-ups and/or incorrect issue.
  • FEFO (First Expiry/First Out): A distribution procedure that ensures the stock with the earliest expiry date is distributed and/or used before an identical stock item with a later expiry date is distributed and/or used; EEFO (Earliest Expiry/First Out) shall have a similar meaning.
  • FIFO (First In/First Out): A distribution procedure to ensure that the oldest stock is distributed and/or utilised before a newer and identical stock item is distributed and/or utilised.

Last update: 30 June 2023

Source: PPRI