2005 Edition Report on Drug Administration Procedure & Practices ...

Existing In-patient Drug Administration Procedure (continued)Drugs delivered to the wardswithin the same hospital andof other hospitalsMost of the drugs are delivered to wards in properly locked receptacles except for the delivery bysatellite pharmacy where drugs dispensed are placed directly into the drug trolley in ward.Drugs delivered to the wards within the same hospital (except for Satellite Pharmacymodel )Existing Problems:• Physical constraints, e.g. insufficient locked receptacles for the transportation of drugs.• Locked receptacles are not absolutely safe and secure if plastic seals of no numberidentificationare used to lock the receptacles, tampering of seals is possible.Drugs delivered to the wards of the other hospitals (Cluster Pharmacy model)Some hospitals may provide in-patients drug dispensing service to other hospitals within the samecluster. The drugs will be dispensed against the MARs faxed from the receiving-hospital to thedispensing-hospital. The drugs will then be delivered to / picked up by the inter-hospital porterteam.Existing Problems:• Inadvertent dispensing for drugs prescribed outside the hospital formulary of the receivinghospitalis possible.• In the receiving-hospital, a larger variety and higher stock level may be required in wards andthe emergency drug cupboards for urgent requirement.• Longer duration of drug supply may be required as daily delivery service may not beavailable and this may increase the drug returns and drug wastage.• If more than one receiving-hospital is served, drugs may be placed in the wrong receptaclesand transported to the wrong hospitals resulting in treatment delay or medication incidents.16