INTRODUCTION
  • The  material  management  in  the  health  care  system  is 
   concerned with providing the drugs, supplies and equipment 
   needed by health personnel to deliver health services.
  • About 40 percent of the funds in the health care system are 
   used up for providing materials.
  • It  is  of  great  importance that materials of right quality are 
   supplied to the consumers
      DEFINITION OF MATERIAL
   • Webster defines the word “materials” as “relating to the 
    production & distribution of economics, goods & social 
    relationships of owners & labourers”.
   •  Housely states, “materials” should be used universally to 
    refer to hospital supplies & equipments.
   •   “Materials”  thus  may  be  defined  as  “equipment, 
    apparatus & supplies procured, stocked & utilised by an 
    organisation”
   TYPES OF MATERIALS
   • DRUGS & MEDICINES- Including anaesthetic agents, vaccines & drugs required 
    for specific purposes.
   • SUPPLIES- Required for diagnosing & treating ailments such as cotton, bandages, 
    gauze, dressing materials, syringes, needles, forceps, splints, plasters, trays, 
    bottles, linen, utensils, various chemicals & reagents/ ready kits for 
    investigations, x-ray plates, radiodiagnostic materials, drugs used in radiology.
   • Supplies may also include items of linen like drawsheets, bed cover, mattress, 
    pillows, masks, aprons, surgical gowns, gloves, etc. or soaps, detergents, 
    antiseptics, broom, candles, match boxes, needles, stationary items, slippers for 
    OT, etc.
   TYPES OF MATERIALS contd..
  • EQUIPMENTS & INSTRUMENTS- Office furniture, refrigerators, AC, 
   trolley, tables, screen, examination tables, IV stands, bedside lockers, 
   sterilizers, X-ray machines, ABG analyzers, pulse oximeter, defibrillators, 
   cardiac monitor, endoscope, oxygen & nitrous gas cylinders, washing 
   machines, incinerators, etc.
  • FACILITIES- Include non movable materials used for long time compared 
   to equipments which have limited life span e.g. buildings, toilets, lifts, 
   water tanks, pumps, kitchen, cooking facilities telephone, etc.
        MANAGEMENT
  • “Management may be defined as the art of securing 
   maximum results with a minimum of efforts so as to 
   secure maximum prosperity and happiness for both 
   employer and employee and give the public the best 
   possible service”.
                                                      
                                                          John Mee