[e-drug] VEN method Prescription Pattern Analysis? (2)

["Evans Sagwa" <esagwa@yahoo.com>]

E-DRUG: VEN method Prescription Pattern Analysis? (2)
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Dear Dr Mohd,
   
As the moderator has explained, details of VEN classification are in the "yellow bible" Managing Drug Supply, 2nd edition, Kumarian press.
   
Classifying items as Vital (V), Essential (E) or Non-essential (N) helps in identifying and prioritising, for example on budget allocation and purchase decisions, or even in optimising limited storage space. This is on aggregate data.
   
Using VEN method in prescription pattern analysis. 
   
In addition to use during drug selection, VEN method can be combined with ABC analysis. The combined analysis is very powerful in reviewing and controlling expenditure. In my practice, it has been useful in "weeding" and maintaining our hospital formulary list and in "de-junking" our medical bulk stores.
   
In prescription pattern analysis, after having assigned VEN status to various medicines, one can review prescriptions and map out the general prescribing patterns in a health system with regard to the VEN categories. The prescribing map so obtained may provide a general picture of the situation in the health system ( e.g, in a hospital). This is a complementary method too.
   
When you have electronic prescription data, e.g. from a computerised dispensing system that can be exported to a spreadsheet, this becomes a very easy exercise.
   
Sincerely,
   
Dr Evans Sagwa
Chief Pharmacist
King Faisal Hospital, Kigali
Rwanda
Email: esagwa@yahoo.com
Tel: +250 588888 ext 1316