Published on 28 Dec 2024
Expired medicines represent a direct financial loss for pharmacies. Beyond the cost of the medicine itself, there are disposal costs, regulatory compliance requirements, and the opportunity cost of shelf space occupied by unsellable products. Effective expiry management can save a pharmacy lakhs of rupees annually.
The best time to start tracking expiry is when the stock arrives. Record the batch number and expiry date of every product as it enters your pharmacy. Modern billing software can automate this process and flag products approaching expiry well in advance.
Conduct a monthly review of all products expiring within the next 3-6 months. Products expiring in 3 months should be placed prominently for faster dispensing. Products expiring in 1 month should be considered for return to the distributor if return policies allow.
Understand your distributor's return policy for near-expiry and expired medicines. Many distributors, including Mahadev Pharma, accept returns for products within a defined window before expiry. Familiarize yourself with the process and timelines to maximize your returns and minimize losses.
Always follow First Expiry, First Out (FEFO) dispensing. Train your staff to check expiry dates when picking medicines and to always dispense the batch closest to expiry first. This simple practice can dramatically reduce your expired stock percentage.
The best expiry management is prevention — order the right quantities based on demand patterns, avoid over-stocking slow-moving items, and maintain strong relationships with your distributor for timely supply of fast-moving products.
