Optimizing Inventory Control in Emergency Health Services: A Case-Based ABC–VED Matrix Application

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the inventory of medicines and disposable medical supplies in a Type A2 emergency health services station in Türkiye using ABC, VED, and ABC–VED matrix methods, and to propose strategies for optimizing stock control.Methods: The study was conducted in 2024 at an A2-type emergency station in Kırklareli province. Annual consumption and cost data for 131 items were extracted from automation records. Criticality classifications (Vital, Essential, Desirable) were determined through structured interviews with eight experienced professionals. The combined ABC–VED matrix was used to identify high-, medium-, and low-priority groups for inventory control.Results: ABC analysis showed that 12.21% of items (Category A) accounted for 69.32% of total expenditure. VED analysis revealed that vital items comprised 55.73% of stock and 57.18% of costs. The integrated ABC–VED matrix indicated that the high-priority group (AV, AE, BV) contained only 33 items but consumed 73.15% of total expenditures, underscoring their critical clinical and financial significance. Medium-priority items (71% of stock) had limited cost impact but high operational volume, while low-priority items, though few, represented 10.3% of costs.Conclusion: Emergency health services require inventory strategies tailored to their unique logistical and clinical demands. The ABC–VED model provides a dual framework for balancing cost efficiency with clinical necessity, ensuring uninterrupted availability of life-saving materials. Integrating matrix-based protocols into regional and national EMS logistics could enhance efficiency, readiness, and patient outcomes.