Inventory Control Techniques and Waste Reduction in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Evidence from Community Pharmacies in Kaduna State

This study investigates the application of inventory control techniques and their impact on waste reduction in community pharmacies in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. Pharmaceutical supply chains are uniquely sensitive to inventory mismanagement because expired or overstocked medicines represent not only financial losses but also potential public health risks. Community pharmacies, which serve as a critical access point for healthcare in urban and peri-urban Kaduna, often operate with limited inventory management systems. Using a descriptive survey, structured questionnaires were administered to 90 licensed pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across 30 community pharmacies in Kaduna, Zaria, and Kafanchan. The study examines the use of specific techniques including Economic Order Quantity, First Expiry First Out, safety stock calculation, and demand forecasting. Waste reduction is measured through expired medicine disposal frequency, over-ordering incidence, and carrying cost per stock-keeping unit. Data are analysed using mean scores, standard deviation, and regression analysis. The research draws on recent literature on pharmaceutical supply chain management in low- and middle-income countries published between 2020 and 2024. Findings are expected to show that pharmacies using structured inventory techniques report significantly lower waste rates. Recommendations will focus on adopting affordable digital inventory tools and training programmes for pharmacy staff, with implications for the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and state health regulatory bodies. Keywords: inventory control, pharmaceutical waste, community pharmacy, Kaduna State, supply chain.