Managing expiry and batches in pharmacies: cutting losses from expired stock

The right procedure

• Barcode receiving with batch and expiry entry
• Automatic first-expiry-first-out (FEFO)
• Alerts at a lead time set per item
• Weekly near-expiry report
• Agreements with suppliers on pre-expiry returns
• Move slow stock to a faster-selling branch

Why shelf order alone isn’t enough

Shelf order matters, but with busy sales and multiple staff the newest sometimes goes first. When the system knows which batch to dispense and costs profit from its real price, silent losses stop.