SIGMED Information Guide - INTRODUCTION

1. Basic Information

1.1 Configuration

SIGMED is a computerized drug management information system for organisations with Central and Regional warehouses[1]. It encompasses all functions of supply chain management. These include: forecasting and planning, procurement and purchasing, warehousing and distribution, inventory management and sales.

SIGMED is operational at the Pharmacie Populaire du Mali (PPM) in Mali and at Central Medical Stores (CMS), Malawi. At CMS, Malawi SIGMED is fully integrated with the accounting software package ACCPAC (modules: General Ledger, Account Payables, Accounts Receivables).

It is assumed that each of the warehouses has a Local Area Network (LAN). SIGMED uses a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database. Although SIGMED also can run on Windows NT4 it is recommended to use Windows 2000 as operating system of the Server. On the clients SIGMED runs on Windows98, Windows XP or Windows 2000 for workstations (recommended).

Scheme I. Configuration SIGMED

Scheme I presents a common configuration. Each regional warehouse (RMS) is equipped with a SQL Server database. The system set up is as follows: the database at Headquarters (CMS) is leading. This means that data of all stock movements (e.g. sales, withdrawal of goods, etc.) from the RMS will be imported into the central database at Headquarters. At the other hand, data on stock movements (transfers) from HQ to RMS or RMS to RMS will be imported into the respective regional database. This process is called a two-way synchronization of databases. It can take place in three different ways: 

      -  by means of a direct dial-up connection - modems
      -  by means of using e-mail
      -  by means of a diskette

Scheme I assumes the installation of the accounting software package at Headquarters. Sales data from the regional depots will be imported and processed by HQ SIGMED[2]; subsequently, a financial data file is generated by SIGMED, which is imported in the accounting software (general ledger).