Which practices ensure traceability of medicines from supplier to patient?

• A. Rely on purchase orders for traceability.
• B. Maintain batch/lot numbers, storage and dispensing logs, and full traceability records.
• C. Do not maintain traceability records.
• D. Maintain only batch numbers.

Answer: (B)

Tracing medicines from supplier to patient relies on having a complete record of where a product has been at each step and which specific unit it is. Maintaining batch or lot numbers lets you identify the exact production batch and its quality and expiry details. Keeping storage logs captures where the product has been kept, under what conditions, and for how long. Dispensing logs link the product to the patient, showing who provided it and when. When these pieces are tied together in full traceability records, you can follow every unit of medicine from purchase through distribution to the patient, enabling recall if needed and ensuring accountability and safety.

Relying only on purchase orders doesn’t provide the actual movement, storage conditions, or dispensing information, so it can’t guarantee traceability. Not maintaining any traceability records breaks the chain entirely, and relying on only batch numbers omits storage, distribution, and patient-level details. Hence, the comprehensive approach in the option with batch/lot numbers, storage and dispensing logs, and complete traceability records is the correct practice.