DISPENSING

TECHNIQUES: Role of
Dispensers & Dispensing
Errors.

Ahmad Zakuan Khairuddin

B Pharm (Hons) USM
M Sc (Pharmacy) USM
Is this a Good Pharmaceutical Practice?
Remember, always trim
your label(s) according
to the size of your
Pharmaceutical final
container(s)….OR
otherwise….
 POSSIBLE SOURCE OF ERROR
IN DISPENSING

 Errors in drug procurement.

 Errors in preparation.
 Errors in drug dispensing.
 ERRORS IN DRUG PROCUREMENT.

 Error in drug ordering over the

phone.
 Failure to check the medicine on
arrival.
 Put in wrong location.
 PROBLEM IN DRUG DISPENSING

 Failure to get the correct

medicine.
 Changing brand names.
 Similar medicine names.
 Similar tablet appearance.
 ERROR IN LABELLING.

 Instruction not clear.

 Before meals/after meals.
 Warning notices not complete.
 ACEI – contraindicated in
pregnancy.
 Allopurinol and sulphonamide –skin
reactions.
 No labels after batch preparation.
 Drug action not complete.
 OTHER ERRORS.

 Error in quantity.
 Improved with computer software.
 Error in preparation.
 Error during transfer of medicine.
 Error in drug compounding and
dilution.
 Error in quality of medicine.
 Expired medicine.
 Improve: drug procurement

 Drug ordering by phone and by fax.

 Forms will be generated by computer
using the database from the clinic
management system.
 Clinic nurse will retain the form.
 Drugs arrival checked & signed by 2
staff members.
 Doctors to verify occasionally.
 Improve: drug dispensing

 Use generic names as far as possible.

 Use furosemide (Frusemide) instead of
Lasix
 Use diclofenac instead of Voltaren.
 Use domperidone instead of motilium
 Eliminate drugs with similar drug names.
 Beware of drugs with similar appearance.
 Improve – drug dispensing procedure

 Staff training.
 State the drug attributes to be
checked.
 Drugs should be cross-checked after
dispensing.
 Checked by the doctor before issue to
patients.
 Staff training
 Attending courses

 In house training
 The number of medications used in individual
clinic is limited.
 Staff will have more thorough understanding of
the drug used in her clinic.
 Doctor can give more precise information.
 Any
Question ???
THANK YOU

SMILE & BE HAPPY