Efficient management of a community pharmacy depends mainly on two things:
- Well-trained and responsible pharmacy staff
- Proper materials management including coding and stocking of medicines
Both are essential for smooth daily operations, correct dispensing and good patient service.
1. Pharmacy Staff
Community pharmacy is not only a business but also a professional health-care service. According to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, all medicines must be dispensed only under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist.
Qualifications Required to Become a Registered Pharmacist
- D.Pharm (2-year diploma) with 500 hours of practical training in a hospital or community pharmacy
- B.Pharm graduates with at least 150 hours of training
Only such individuals can register with the State Pharmacy Council and legally work as pharmacists.
Pharmacy Assistants
To support the registered pharmacist, assistants with 10+2 or any degree qualification may be employed. They help in billing, stocking, record maintenance and customer handling but cannot dispense medicines independently.
Role of Pharm.D Graduates
The Pharm.D program was introduced in India in 2008 with a strong focus on patient care. Pharm.D graduates are trained in:
- Patient counseling
- Health screening
- Drug therapy monitoring
- Managing complete pharmacy operations
They add high value to community pharmacies by improving the quality of patient-centered services.
2. Materials – Coding and Stocking
When medicines arrive from wholesalers, they must be arranged properly on shelves. Good stocking helps the pharmacist locate medicines quickly and prevents dispensing errors.
Pharmacists may organize medicines:
- Company-wise
- Product-wise
- Pharmacological class-wise
To simplify identification, several coding methods are used.
Coding Methods Used in Pharmacies
1) Mnemonic Method
“Mnemonic” means memory. In this method, simple codes are used to remember where certain groups of medicines are kept.
Example:
- “GI” → Gastrointestinal drugs
- “CVS” → Cardiovascular drugs
The code is usually written on the rack or shelf label.
2) Scientific Method
Medicines are arranged based on scientific or therapeutic classification.
Example:
- Major class: Cardiovascular drugs
- Sub-class: HTN (Hypertension drugs)
- Further groups:
- DU → Diuretics
- BB → Beta blockers
- CCB → Calcium channel blockers
- ACEI → ACE inhibitors
- ARB → Angiotensin receptor blockers
The same logic can be applied to dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, syrups, ointments, etc.
3) Random Method
This is an arbitrary or simple arrangement where medicines are stored:
- Alphabetically
- Numerically
- By dosage form
This method is common in small pharmacies but may become confusing if the number of products grows.
Location Coding for Quick Identification
Besides medicine coding, pharmacists may also use location codes to remember exactly where an item is kept.
These codes can be based on:
- Type of item (OTC, surgical products, baby care)
- Company-wise arrangement
- Supplier-wise grouping
Stock Handling and Inventory Movement
All medicines received from suppliers first go to the central store. From there, smaller quantities are moved to the pharmacy shelves for dispensing.
This approach helps in:
- Better stock monitoring
- Reducing wastage
- Preventing expiry accumulation
- Planning future inventory needs
Additional Notes
Good staffing and smart stocking practices improve:
- Patient satisfaction
- Dispensing accuracy
- Pharmacy efficiency
- Overall business performance
Detailed Notes:
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