Application of logistics in drug supply

Introduction. At present, patients living in remote, inaccessible, or rural areas have a lower quality of life, including that due to the insufficient level of medical and drug care than those residing in cities, towns, and urban population aggregates. Objective: to determine whether a logistic approach can be applied to solve the problem of providing narcotic drugs (NDs) and psychotropic substances (PSs) to outpatients in the region. Material and methods. The study objects were feldsher-midwife stations, medical and obstetric stations, outpatient clinics, hospices, and hospitals. Their location data were provided by the Health Committee of the Leningrad Region. All the objects were numbered. The branch and boundary method was used in the study. Results. By using the Leningrad Region as an example, the author proposed a logistic model for supplying the outpatients with NDs and PSs. He calculated the preliminary economic impact that amounted to 2,794.79 rubles in 2018 and 2,911.17 rubles in 2019 with a medical assistance call. Based on these data, the author proved the expediency of transiting the drug provision with medicines to the qualitatively new level, by applying logistic tools, which would reduce the time taken to deliver essential medicines. Conclusion. The optimum ways to supply NDs and PSs were made for several town (and their districts regions) of the Leningrad Region. The economic impact of their introduction was calculated.