Assessment of Electronic Inventory Management Systems and Utilisation in the Healthcare System in Abuja, FCT Nigeria (Published)
It has been argued that integrating electronic inventory management system (EIMS) into business operations improves competitiveness, productivity, efficiency and profitability. This study set out to explore the level of implementation and utilization of EIMS in hospitals of the FCT Abuja Nigeria. Three hypotheses were formulated and guided the analysis of the assessment. A cross-sectional questionnaire based study design was adopted and the study was focused on a population of about 122 hospitals in Abuja FCT Nigeria. Data collected was analysed by SigmaXL software and statistical significance at P < 0.05. A total of 98 hospitals were surveyed and 84 responded (91% response rate). Majority were private hospitals 68 (81%). The implementation and utilization of partially electronic inventory system in which some manual register/card exist (39, 46%). Chi-square test revealed that factors such as age, variety of services and type of hospital did not influence the implementation of EMIS, but indicate that a significant (P < 0.00), proportion (37, 78%) of the hospital implementing EIMS are using software developed and managed by Nigerians. For this setting under study, the implementation and utilization of EIMS in the hospitals is at a commendable level and that the contribution of indigenous software development and management has considerable facilitated this. Notwithstanding this achievement, there is a great gap of implementation and utilization of EIMS in the government healthcare sector and huge business opportunities for entrepreneurs of software exist. Further studies were suggested that will improve on the huge entrepreneurial opportunities that exist in EIMS in hospitals in Nigeria.
Keywords: assessment; electronic; inventory management systems; utilisation; healthcare industry