SYSTEM PROJECT PROPOSAL

AKOKO BRIAN OCHIENG

P15/41361/2011

KENYA SCIENCE CAMPUS

ONLINE ORDERING OF DRUGS

SUPERVISOR: Mr. J Ogutu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Background
1.2 Problem definition
1.3 Aims/goals
1.4 Objectives
1.5 Project justification
Chapter2: Literature survey

Chapter 3: Methodology

3.1 System development methodology to be used

3.2 Schedule and timeline
3.3 Resources used
3.4 Bibliography/References

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 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background

This project proposal is for online ordering of drugs. Choose this for the sake of all the patients
in need of drugs but do not have the capability of physically going to take it from the pharmacy
or chemist.

Online pharmacies are companies that sell pharmaceutical preparations, including prescription-
only drugs, on the Internet. Very little is known about this phenomenon because many online
pharmacies operate from remote countries, where legal bases and business practices are largely
inaccessible to international research.

In Kenya most of chemists do not offer this service hence this made me think of this idea as an
opportunity to exploit. This will also ease the work for most hospitals, academic institutions and
the general public. As they will only need either a computer or a cellphone and the internet to
carry on this exercise.

This project is pocket and user friendly as it saves the cost of traveling. This project is going to
act as a representative of all the pharmacies and chemist through a particular website accessible
to the general public and any institution.

The website will be integrated with a global positioning system for the sake of location and the
mode of payment will be through M-pesa, Pesa pal and any banking system e.g. visa card or any
other mobile payment system. The money will be transacted directly to the website number that
represents each chemist.

The website will also allow the client to view their laboratory test results by logging in into their
account hence they will not have to go personally to the chemist. If the lab test results are not
ready they will be notified on their email address or sent a short message text on their phone
once the client request for them.

The website’s main propriety will be to allow clients to shop for their preferred drugs online at
pocket friendly prices.

This idea basically triggered me when our neighbour a pregnant woman almost died because she
could not access her medicine due to her being alone and stranded. So I had imaged if she had
access to an online service she could have easily got that drug thus this could not jeopardize her
life.

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1.2 Problem definition

This project basically is a great idea to the general public and more so to hospitals that may need
urgent distribution of drugs due to the nature of patients they always have moreover save a lot of
time, cost and lives.

In terms of time depending on the location of the patient or organization the person will only
have to login into their account and make an order. The order will then be reflected on the
website database in which is alone accessible to the administrator hence making it also
confidential and secure, thus an agent will be sent immediately to the location and specific area.

Cost will be reduced as the patient will not have to make constant movement and this might save
a lot of time and in case of urgent cases.

1.3 Aim/goal

The main of this project is to bridge the gap distance between the client and the chemist hence
improving the level of service as well as the technology. Through the following ways:

i) Use of a global positioning system

ii) Online buying of drugs at affordable prices
iii) Advertise a group of unknown drug stores to clients

1.4 Objectives
The objectives of the system include:

i) The system objective of this project is that of having a relationship between a chemist and the
customers. This gives the customer an opportunity on a click of a button or mouse they are able
to be served.

ii) The other objective is to link as many pharmacies or chemists as possible to a particular
website

iii) The system objective of this project is to avail the ordered drug as fast as possible by
calculating the geographical proximity of the client and sending a message on how long it will
take.

v) The system will be accessible to clients 24 hours a day hence they will be no time limits.

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1.5 Project justification

This project is mainly going to save the customer the hustle of movement and hence bring
service closer as they will only need to register in to the website but if he or she is a member then
just login and make an order.

This project will also save various chemists with advertisement of their drugs as they will only
be required to be registered to the website hence make it available to users.

1.6 Scope

This project may be limited to some service due to the cost of transport as some places might be
too remote for the agents to reach. It might be limited to the source of capital required to run the
service. The project requires the customer to have basic idea of using a computer and might be
limited to internet access.

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 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE SURVEY
Online ordering of drugs has been done in a few countries in the world but the most inspiring
idea came from all day chemist in India. All Day Chemist has been providing service to online
consumers world-wide since January, 2000, and is ranked highest by numerous online consumer forums
due to their earned reputation for reliability and integrity.

In case a consumer experiences delay in the arrival of the consignment of generic drugs, they
ship the consignment at absolutely no cost to the customer. This is actually saves the customer as
the trader is the one to pay for the cost of transportation hence making it affordable to the
consumer.

Another chemist that also offers similar services is drugstore.com it offers discount to its
customers and its prices are affordable. Most of this drug stores display the drug prices and
images of their products.

In Kenya there are also a number online pharmacies, Kenya online pharmacies being one of the
many that has really promoted easy access to drugs due to the variety of services they offer
including home care services, nutrition and supplements, home care nursing services etc.

Through all this sources of related article and information on online pharmacies there are
important phenomenon that is continuing to spread, despite partial regulation, due to intrinsic
difficulties linked to the impalpable and evanescent nature of the Web and its global dimension.

To enhance the benefits and minimize the risks of online pharmacies, a 2-level approach could
be adopted. The first level should focus on policy, with laws regulating the phenomenon at an
international level. The second level needs to focus on the individual. This approach should aim
to increase health literacy, required for making appropriate health choices, recognizing risks and
making the most of the multitude of opportunities offered by the world of medicine.

(Article from journal of medical internet research)

The main aim for this project proposal to is to make buying of drugs more close to the public
hence one only needs an internet enabled phone eg.android,blackberry,Samsung etc. or computer
and he/she has the drug at his/her door step.

The site will also give the client an opportunity to communicate their feedback through Facebook
and twitter hence that will help improve the service to their best interest.

Through the use of a global positioning system the site will be able make location of place easier
hence limit the client’s distance to the nearest chemist and the specific product one wants.

The system will also enable the various drug stores to advertise their products to their clients
online hence attract more customers.

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 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLGY
3.1 System development methodology to be used

The system development methodology will be that of agile scrum. Scrum is unique because it
introduces the idea of “empirical process control.” That is, Scrum uses the real-world progress of
a project — not a best guess or uninformed forecast — to plan and schedule releases. In Scrum,
projects are divided into succinct work cadences, known as sprints, which are typically one
week, two weeks, or three weeks in duration. At the end of each sprint one has to assess the
progress of a project and plan its next steps. This allows a project’s direction to be adjusted or
reoriented based on completed work, not speculation or predictions. Scrum’s capacity for
adaption and flexibility makes it an appealing option, the stability of its practices give something
to lean on when development gets chaotic.

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 3.2 Schedule and timeline

The project proposed is of duration of two months as it will be broken into;

Task Task Name Planned Planned Planned February March May

No Hours Start Date End Date
Problem definition

2hrs per
1 day 1th March
System Analysis
2hrs per
2 day 17th March
System Design 2hrs per
3 day 3rd April
Programming

2hrs per
4 day 10th April
Implementation

2hrs per
5 day 17th April
2hrs per
6 Maintenance day 24th April 1st may

Total Hours

3.3 Resources used

The resources required to implement the objective of the project are:

 A computer machine, programming languages eg. Php, java script, Html and a phone.
 Website hosting and security issues.

The approximate cost of the resources required to perform the project is 100 dollars.

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 3.4 Bibliography/References
References from primary sources such as similar projects in library.

Reviewed secondary resources such as Books, Magazine etc.

Systems Analysis and Design 8th ed. - K. Kendall, J. Kendall (Pearson, 2011)

List of websites that offer online chemist services

www.alldaychemist.com

www.SelfServeRx.com

www.Generic-Pharmacy.net

www.Drugstore.com

www.kenyaonlinepharmacy.com