This document defines material management as planning, organizing, and controlling aspects involved in ensuring the availability of necessary materials, supplies, drugs, and equipment as needed. The purpose of material management is to provide the right materials in the required quantity and quality when required, cut costs through standardization, develop healthcare knowledge and skills, and increase healthcare system efficiency. Nurses play an important role in material management by ensuring adequate supplies, monitoring quality and safety, maintaining inventory and emergency stocks, and participating in policymaking and evaluation.

1. MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
Dr. Rahul B. Pandit
Faculty of Nursing
Sassoon General Hospital, Pune

2. DEFINITION
Material management is concerned with
providing the drugs, supplies and equipment
needed by health personnel to deliver health
services.

3. DEFINITION
Material management is defined as planning,
organizing and controlling aspects involved in
ensuring availability of necessary materials,
supplies drugs and equipment as and when
required.

4. PURPOSE
1. Provide specified materials, drugs and
supplies in the required quantity and quality
as and when required.
2. Cut down material costs through
standardization.
3. Develop knowledge and skill of health care.
4. Increase efficiency of health care systems.

5. OBJECTIVES
 Making the material supplies drugs and
equipment available as necessary for carrying
out health and nursing care activities.
 Making the required materials available in a
safe and viable condition to users as and
when required both in elective and emergency
settings.

6. OBJECTIVES
 Supplying the required material at an optimal
cost.
 Ensuring recycling of materials wherever
feasible.
 Ensuring appropriate and safe waste disposal
arising out of the use of materials and
supplies.

7. AIM
The management should aim to get the material
1. Of right quality
2. Of right quantity
3. At right time
4. At right place
5. For the right cost

8. Requirements of Material
Management
 Right material
 Right quality
 Right quantity
 Right cost
 Right time
 Right user
 Right supplier

9. GOOD MATERIAL MANAGERS ADOPT THE
FOLLOWING PROCEDURES
 Taking inventory regularly & systematically.
 Requisitioning at indenting as per actual need
 Receiving and inspecting incoming items.
 Storing and protecting items.
 Issuing items for use.
 Proper use of items.
 Account

10. ELEMENTS OF A MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
1. Planning
2. Demand estimation
3. Procurement
4. Receipt and inspection
5. Storage
6. Issue and use
7. Maintenance and repair
8. Disposal
9. Accounting

11. NURSES’ ROLE IN MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
 Ensuring regular and adequate flow of
necessary equipment, supplies, drugs and
solutions.
 Monitoring and sustaining the quality and
safety of the materials used including drugs
and solution.

12. NURSES’ ROLE IN MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
 Issuing of items on the basis of “First” in First
out’’, and regular checking of expiry dates of
drugs contribute towards safety.
 Indenting, receiving, storing, checking and
timely replenishing of all necessary
equipment, supplies, drugs and solutions.
 Maintaining of emergency and buffer stocks.

13. NURSES’ ROLE IN MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
 Arranging for preventive maintenance
wherever necessary.
 Maintaining inventory and stock of all items
and supplies.
 Arranging for condemnation of articles in
accordance with the down policies of the
organization and maintaining a dead stock
register.

14. NURSES’ ROLE IN MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
 Arranging and assisting in audit of materials
 Participation in policy making for material
management
 Participation in tender / procurement
 Orienting Nursing personnel on material
management policies from time to time.

15. NURSES’ ROLE IN MATERIAL
MANAGEMENT
 Evaluation the efficacy of the material
management system followed in particular
Nursing unit.