The number to watch
Value of stock within ninety days of expiry. In a pharmacy that number is the difference between an asset and a write-off, and it is invisible unless batch and expiry are recorded. Reviewing it monthly gives you time to return near-dated stock to the supplier or move it, which is worth far more than discovering it after the date has passed. It is also the figure an inspection is most likely to ask about.
Batch and expiry are not optional
A medical store deals in goods that expire, and stock that has passed its date is a liability rather than an asset. Recording batch and expiry against what you buy and sell is what lets you clear near-dated stock in time and answer a supplier query about a returned strip. It is also what a customer or an inspection will ask for, and reconstructing it later is not possible.
Strips, packs and loose sale
Medicines sell as a full pack, a strip or loose tablets, and all three come from the same stock. Holding the conversion on the item means the figure stays correct however the sale is made. Rate per unit differs across pack sizes, so pack size belongs on the item rather than being worked out at the counter.
Fast counter, small margins
A pharmacy counter is busy and the margins are set by the printed price, which means speed and stock accuracy are where a shop makes its money rather than pricing. Barcode scanning on the fast lines, low-stock alerts on what actually moves, and a day-end that ties are the three things worth getting right. Monthly credit accounts for regular families and clinics need the same statement discipline as any other trade.