Q.Describe location and layout of Outpatient Dispensary.
Ans. Location-
It should be located near main entrance of the office and the hospital and minimum disturbances
to inpatient unit. It must be located on ground floor
For location of this service three provisions are made
1) A separate outpatient dispensing pharmacy is set up.
2)A combined unit service for in-patients and outpatients from same window
3) A combined unit service for inpatients and outpatients from different windows.
When the outpatient department and pharmacy are geographically widely separated, a separate
outpatient dispensing pharmacy is set up.
Layout




1. Table and chair, 2.Preparation table, 3.Storage rack, 4. Sink with tap,
5. Medicine platform 6.Dispensing window
1) The layout of this unit is important since it carries the good or bad impression about the
hospital depending on the services the outpatient gets.
2) The unit should be provided with two windows, one for receiving the prescription and other
for delivery.
3) When the prescription is being compounded, the patients have to wait for some time. Hence
waiting area should be provided.
4) The waiting room should be clean and ventilated with sufficient no. of comfortable seats.
5) In the waiting room, general publications regarding pharmacy and medicines should be
provided. It also includes magazines and news papers
6) The waiting period should be kept minimum to avoid overcrowding.
7) In the waiting room the wall posters should be displayed through which patients can learn
about the family planning methods and general hygiene.
8) Thus the waiting room of the outpatient dispensing unit should be good place for educating
the patients on matters relating to the health and hygiene.`
9) There should be consulting room and store room.