ABC Classification & Medical Consumables Management
WANG Yong-lian, ZHANG Feng-qin, ZHANG Chao-qun
Department of Equipment, Fuwai Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China
Abstract：Objective The necessary medical consumable reserves can meet the clinical requirements in multiple departments and serve as a good guarantee for regular operation of medical services. While the medical consumable shortage is diminished, its inventory, capital infusion and operating costs shall be reduced as low as possible so as to maintain a proper inventory of medical consumables. Methods Accumulative ratios between medical consumables are calculated on the basis of the total sales under the guidance of ABC (Activity Based Classification). Through analysis of the data acquired, the consumables are classified into three categories (A-level: Important Consumables; B-level: Secondarily Important Consumables; C-level: Least Important Consumables) according to the degree of importance. Results Four-year practices manifested that deployment of ABC in medical consumables management had made the velocity of the inventory a distinct improvement in spite of the increasing ex-warehouse volume. Conclusion The categories-based classification and management of medical consumables optimize the structure of the inventory and reduce the management costs, which results in a rational tendency of the medical consumable inventory and contributes to accurate, prompt, secure and effective services to the clinical departments and enhances competitiveness of the hospital.
