COMPUTER BASED STANDARD APPRAISAL SYSTEM FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

1.1 Introduction

Computerized Standard Appraisal for Pharmaceutical Drug prescription system is an information system that is used to record relevant information relating to the patients. The prescribe drugs, bought drugs, sold drugs and available drugs are processed by the program. Anti-infective drugs are classified as antibacterial, antiviral, or antifungal depending on the type of microorganism they combat. Anti-infective drugs interfere selectively with the functioning of a microorganism while leaving the human host unharmed. A Pharmaceutical Products Appraisal System (PPAS) enables authorized users to access, manage, share and safeguard patients’ medication. A PPAS can reduce prescription errors resulting in fewer adverse drug events (such as drug-to-drug interactions) and reduced hospitalizations.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

---

1.2 Background of Study

The search for excellences begins with a search for what one needs to achieve one’s personal best, the search has led to discovery of many tools to improve human efficiency. Computer invention leads this class. Since the advent in the mid 40’s the problem has become how to use computer truly for human endeavour. Initially, it was used as guides towards improving administrative performances, today the shift is on the side of the computer making decision and improving operation performance directly.

Decisions are basically made daily on raw materials inventory engineering spare parts, procurement and contend if personal etc. these decisions are supposed to be made from the interpretation of processed data. This is however, not usually the case. Some operations like job sequencing on machines, potency test on things at regular intervals, careful monitoring of inventory level and efficient scheduling of machine maintenance requires computer aids for good productivity. This is unfortunately lacking. Considering pharmaceutical products in relation to the National Agency for food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), information storage and retrieval with adequate, processing and the base of their work flow information on drug and the nature of such drug attracts importance more than every other operation.

Pharmaceutical Products Appraisal System (PPAS) supports the storage and retrieval of patient drug prescription and medication information, and may provide application services supporting dispensing activities, such as drug usage evaluation. These are information found in the Pharmaceutical Products Appraisal System; we have therapeutics, pharmacological information, prescribing information, dosage, side effects, indication, and contradiction.

In this part of the world people are in the habit of taking drugs arbitrarily without minding the pharmacological effect, without thinking about the side effect, without self medication. Some of this has led to permanent disabilities.

A lot of people have been suffering as a result of ignorance because they take drugs without knowing the side effect of the drug. People have died because of ignorance of taking wrong drugs at the wrong time. Pharmaceutical Products Appraisal System gives details about the drugs and the side effect of any drugs, so that any drugs been given to a patient he/she will know whether the drugs is reacting in their body system or not. The effect of this is the abuse of drugs which weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection. It also led to death and abdominal pain which can lead to changes in appetite and weight loss.

It is against the background that the developments of this software to enable people have access to drug related information, so the software users should not give false information that is out of the software deeds. This research work is based on providing adequate information about drugs. At the end of this project, the drug information software will be able to provide adequate information about drugs.

The Disclaimer alert of the Pharmaceutical Products Appraisal System is beyond under aged or unqualified personnel using the software for his/her personal health advantage. Ensure to read and ask qualified expert about any statement or fact that is not familiar or known to you, otherwise this software would not be held in contempt for any negative reason that is not within the scope of study.

---

1.3 Statement of Problem

The existing system is not meeting its objectives due to problem associated with it. These problems hinder the smooth operation of the system. The existing system is not flexible. The method of information storage and retrieval is very tedious. It does not make room for adequate modification of information. The system does not prompt for notification of a particular entry when a re-entry is made. The system does not generate report in time. It wastes a lot of time in report generation. This hinders success decision by managers; directors or other head of councils. The system is very expensive to maintain and the operations are difficult to carry out. Due to the volume of data involved and the complex repots to tackle, the staff finds it difficult to produce accurate result.

---

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to Design and Implement of a Computerized Standard Appraisal System for Pharmaceutical Products. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to design and develop an application software that will:

1. Make sure that maximum appraisal and security check in the agency (NAFDAC).
2. Proves the usefulness of computer in the case study and enlighten the student in the course of studying relating to other fields of life.
3. Provide detailed information on the concept of counterfeit pharmaceutical product.
4. Improve the work operation of appraisal by keeping adequate records, enabling easy retrieval and update and also enhancing speedy processing.
5. Providing possible solution to the problems and to modify and develop a new system that will carry out the activities in an automatic manner.

---

1.5 Significance of Study

The importance of appraising this products and the importance of computer in the field; the major purpose is to effect a computerized design which will tackle the operation of appraising pharmaceutical products in an automatic manner.

This system when completed and implemented it will help provide adequate information about most commonly used Pharmaceutical Products. This project will be beneficial to individuals such as students, pharmacist and drug prescribers by providing accurate and complete information about each drug or medicine before self medication takes place. Besides, the study will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.

---

1.6 Scope of the study

This project work is designed to take care of a standard appraisal system for pharmaceutical products in NAFDAC Nigeria. It keeps adequate records of appraised drugs or products and the registration numbers respectively. The design accepts information about such product, stores them and generate adequate result when needed.

---

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

---

1.8 Definition of Terms

Drug: A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters the body's function either physically and/or psychologically. Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin).

Medication: A medication is a substance that is taken into or placed on the body that does one of the following things: most medications are used to cure disease or condition. (For example, antibiotics are given to cure an infection. Medications are also given to treat a medical condition).

Prescription: A prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other qualified health care practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. 

Symptom: A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is apparent to a patient, reflecting the presence of an unusual state or of a disease. (For example: tiredness, cough or fever).