The European Pharmaceutical Wholesale Industry: - phagro

The European Pharmaceutical Wholesale Industry
For wholesalers the use of modern information technology offers additional ways
to provide services to pharmacies. Internet services do not only comprise detailed
specifications on (new) products, but also provide information on their availability,
price and delivery time. Online ordering has become only a matter of course.
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Wholesalers provide websites for pharmacists giving information
on all available products, including detailed product information.
Pharmacists see which products are available in the
closest warehouse and can order them immediately. Price
changes are also documented. In addition, pharmacists get
information on new drugs available.
IT platforms implemented by wholesalers help enhance pharmacies’
inventory control. Pharmacies can order medicines
electronically. The system is flexible enough to allow orders
given to be adjusted if necessary. The goods are delivered together
with an electronic invoice that ensures an automatic
entry of goods into the pharmacies’ inventory management
system.
Most of the services offered are related to marketing and promotional activities.
Sales analysis, pharmacy-staff training and education, customer brochures etc.
have already become basic added value services provided by pharmaceutical
wholesalers.
Wholesalers support pharmacists to optimize the “facing” in
the pharmacies’ customer sections and the prescription
counter. Stock adjustments help to optimize the utilization of
the pharmacies limited storage capacities and help reduce the
actual time necessary for finding and picking medicines, reducing
the time patients spend in the pharmacy.
Nonetheless, pharmaceutical wholesalers also provide assistance related to pharmacies’
logistics, pharmacy management or financial management. Services in
this field comprise management of the clients’ accounts receivables and offering
individual terms of payment.
Special agreements with financial institutes support pharmacists
financing their shops. Furthermore, pharmacists have access
to special consultancy and offers in questions related to
their private pension and asset management.
The expansion of services creating added value is unanimously regarded as one of
the most important trends shaping the wholesale industry. But not only is the
IPF Institute for Pharmaeconomic Research