Analysis of Medication Inventory System for Intensive Care Unit: A Hospital Example

Objective: Optimizing health benefits becomes essential given the limitations of universal healthcare resources. Therefore, this study aims to conduct an always, better, and control (ABC) and vital, essential, and desirable (VED) analysis of medications in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital. The primary objective is to enhance medication inventory management and control costs. The research will assess clinical and operational actions, examine research databases, and review published literature to achieve these objectives. Given that drug expenses constitute a significant portion (30-40%) of total medication costs in ICUs, this study will focus on evaluating selective inventory control techniques, including ABC, VED, and ABC-VED matrix analysis. Materials and Methods: Examining 546 medications in 2020, 634 in 2021, and 662 in 2022, this study collected three years of data to conduct a comprehensive analysis. The applied methodologies included ABC, VED, and ABC-VEN matrix techniques. Results: In 2020, Category I, comprising AV+AE+AD+BV+CV, had 79 drugs, constituting 74% of the total cost and representing 14% in variety. Category II (BE+CE+BD) included 259 drugs, accounting for 47% of the total cost and 47% of the total drug variety. In comparison, Category III (CD) comprised 208 drugs, representing 38% of the total cost and variety share. In 2021 and 2022, similar patterns were observed within the categories, with varying drug counts and percentages. Conclusion: Given rising costs and the integration of expensive innovations in critical care, the study highlights the critical role of economic evaluations in the ICU. Implementing robust inventory control measures is crucial for effective medication management in ICUs, contributing to costeffectiveness and improved resource utilization in healthcare systems.