DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DRUGS TRACKING SYSTEM FOR SPECIALIST HOSPITAL YOLA

This project set out to design and implement a Drug Tracking System for Specialist Hospital, Yola, in response to persistent problems such as drug wastage, poor inventory records, and inefficiencies in pharmaceutical management. The system was built on a three-tier architecture with a web-based interface for ease of use, a business logic layer to handle operations, and a centralized database for reliable record keeping. Three main user roles administrators, pharmacists, and inventory officers were incorporated to ensure accountability and clear separation of responsibilities. A MySQL database, normalized to the Third Normal Form (3NF), supported accurate and efficient data retrieval, while the system itself was developed using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Bootstrap, and PHP, and deployed in a XAMPP environment. The system included modules for user authentication, drug management, stock monitoring, transaction logging, and reporting. Testing, through black-box and user acceptance methods, showed that the system met both functional and performance requirements. Once deployed on the hospital’s local area network, staff training sessions were conducted to support smooth adoption. Results demonstrated that the system provided real-time stock monitoring, reduced errors, improved accountability, and minimized wastage. While the system proved effective, its scope was limited to Specialist Hospital, Yola, and it relied heavily on stable power and network supply. The study recommends full institutional adoption, regular training, continuous maintenance, and eventual integration with other hospital systems. Future improvements could involve a mobile application, predictive analytics through artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology for enhanced transparency.