Chapter 9: Hospital Pharmacy & 10-Category FIFO Inventory
Uttercode Healthcare ERP includes a specialized hospital pharmacy and medical supplies inventory system that enforces strict First-In, First-Out (FIFO) batch management and generic composition mapping.
1. 10 Hospital Item Category Groups
All hospital items are cataloged across 10 specialized categories:
| Group | Category Name | Typical Inventory Items |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Medicines & Pharmaceuticals | Tablets, Capsules, Injections, Ampoules, Syrups, IV Fluids, Inhalers, Vaccines |
| 02 | Surgical Items & Sets | Surgical Instruments, Sutures, Blades, Scalpels, Surgical Drapes, Gowns, Kits |
| 03 | Medical Consumables | Surgical Gloves, Syringes, Needles, IV Cannulas, Catheters, Gauze, Cotton, Bandages |
| 04 | Diagnostic Reagents & Kits | Test Strips, Blood/Urine Collection Vials, Glucose Strips, COVID Kits, Thermometers |
| 05 | Patient Care Supplies | Adult Diapers, Bedpans, Urinals, Hospital Gowns, Bed Linen, Feeding/NG Tubes |
| 06 | Short-Term Medical Equipment | Oxygen Cylinders, Nebulizers, Suction Machines, BP Monitors, Pulse Oximeters |
| 07 | Rehabilitation & Mobility | Wheelchairs, Walkers, Crutches, Walking Sticks, Knee Braces, Arm Slings |
| 08 | Nutrition & Specialized Diets | Enteral Protein Powders, Nutritional Drinks, Specialized Clinical Diet Packs |
| 09 | Personal Hygiene & Sanitisers | Hospital Disinfectants, Hand Rubs, Antiseptic Lotions, Oral Hygiene Kits |
| 10 | Hospital Disposables | Disposable Underpads, Disposable Bedsheets, Shoe Covers, Surgical Caps |
2. Generic Composition vs. Brand Name Formulations
To empower doctors and pharmacists with generic alternatives and cost optimization:
- Every product master links the Brand Trade Name (e.g. Montek-LC, Foracort, Telekast-L) to its underlying active Generic Composition (e.g. Montelukast + Levocetirizine, Budesonide + Formoterol).
- Pharmacists can easily look up therapeutic equivalents during stockouts.
3. Strict Batch Number & Expiry FIFO Control
The pharmacy engine prevents dispensing expired medications:
- Batch Tracking: Every inward stock item records its Batch Number, Manufacturing Date, and Expiry Date.
- FIFO Dispensing: The point-of-sale system automatically suggests and picks the nearest-expiry batch first.
- Expiry Radar Warnings: Color-coded alerts for items expiring within:
- 🔴 < 30 Days: Critical Expiry Alarm - 🟡 30 – 60 Days: Urgent Stock Rotation - 🔵 60 – 90 Days: Planned Consumption
- Hard Expiry Lock: The system completely blocks the sale or issuance of expired items.
4. Ward Material Consumption & Inter-Department Transfers
Track supply usage across hospital wards:
- Branch / Ward Stock Transfer: Dispense bulk stock from Central Pharmacy to OT, ICU, or General Ward sub-stores.
- Material Consumption Desk (
material_consumption_list.php): Log consumables, syringes, and surgical sets used per patient or ward, automatically debiting inventory and charging the patient's bill.