Storing medicines in warehouses and hospitals: The role of storage practices and routine follow-up in maintaining shelf life and preventing spoilage
Keywords:
Drug preservation, storage practices, routine follow-up, drug validity, drug spoilageAbstract
This study addresses the issue of preserving medicines in warehouses and hospitals as one of the basic pillars of ensuring the quality of health services and patient safety. The study aims to demonstrate the impact of proper storage practices and routine follow-up in maintaining the shelf life of medicines and preventing their spoilage. The research relied on the descriptive analytical approach, where data were collected from a sample of 40 health personnel participants with varying practical experiences. The questionnaire was used as the main tool to measure participants' attitudes towards the existence of committees specialized in drug detection, mechanisms for safe disposal of expired drugs, and the degree of adherence to storage instructions.
The results showed that committees already exist to detect expired medications, that disposal is often carried out in an organized and safe manner, in addition to a general awareness of the importance of adhering to storage instructions. However, some challenges have emerged, such as the poor availability of refrigerators for some sensitive medicines and differing policies regarding the recycling of non-consumable medicines. The results also showed that periodic detection and continuous follow-up reduce drug corruption rates and increase the efficiency of inventory management. The study concluded that good storage practices and regular follow-up are crucial factors in ensuring the stability of medicines and maintaining their effectiveness. It recommended strengthening oversight, developing the storage environment, providing continuous training for personnel, and adopting clear protocols for the safe disposal of medicines.
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