A Framework for Locating Prescribed Medication at Pharmacies

Abstract

Introduction: Accessibility of available medication at pharmacies is one of the core problems in the health sector of developing countries. The mechanism for optimally accessing the available drugs in pharmacies is unclear. Usually, patients in need are compelled to haphazardly switch between pharmacies in search of their prescription medications due to lack of information about the locations of pharmacies with required drug.

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to develop a framework that will simplify the process of identifying and locating nearest pharmacy when searching for prescribed medications.

Methods: Primary constraints (distance, drug cost, travel time, travel cost, opening and closing hours of pharmacies) in accessing required prescribed medications from pharmacies were identified from literature, and the client's and pharmacies' latitude and longitude coordinates were used to find the nearest pharmacies that have the required prescribed medication in stock.

Results: The framework with web application was developed and tested on simulated patients and pharmacies and was successful in optimizing the identified constraints.

Discussions: The framework will potentially reduce patient expenses and prevent delays in obtaining medication. It will also contribute for future pharmacy and e-Health information systems.

Keywords: constraint; drug; nearest pharmacy.

Figure 1

Framework development methodology.

Figure 2

Architecture of the constraint optimization framework.

Figure 3

Search result and sorted list pharmacies with the drug Ibuprofen based on distance as well as travel cost and travel time.

Figure 4

Sorted list of pharmacies with drug Ibuprofen based on their drug cost value.

Figure 5

Drug reservation request, confirmation message and Google map guide to Pharmacy_8, the nearest pharmacy in the list.