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The financial logic of reducing stock
One of the most compelling reasons for
reducing dispensary stock is simple: cash
flow. Every box sitting on the shelf represents
money that could be in the bank or reinvested
in patient services. Unless you’re operating a
high-volume dispensary with significant bulk
discounts, holding large quantities of stock
yields little benefit. Instead, it exposes you
to financial risk—particularly with Drug Tariff
price reductions that can leave you dispensing
at a loss.
Moreover, expired stock equals wasted money.
In a time of tightening budgets, stock waste
is an unnecessary drain. By holding only
what’s needed for current prescriptions and
a small formulary for acute needs, you can Efficiency gains: Time saved is money saved
significantly reduce financial loss through Managing stock isn’t just a financial burden;
stock expiry and devaluation. it’s a logistical one too. Consider the time it
takes to:
• Unpack, check, and scan stock.
• Rotate inventory for ‘first in, first out’.
• Regularly date-check items.
• Handle expired or damaged products.
• Chase missing items and manage owings.
This is time that could be better spent
supporting patients or streamlining other
parts of the workflow. The “order to script”
model—ordering only what’s needed to fulfil
prescriptions in hand—dramatically cuts down
on administrative tasks.
In many large chain pharmacies, minimal
stockholding has been standard practice for
years. Why? Because it works. It’s efficient, it
reduces waste, and it maximizes profit margins.
Independent and GP-based dispensaries
can—and should—adopt the same approach.

Reclaiming your dispensary space
Imagine your dispensary without the clutter. Visualise the shelves cleared of excess stock, the
space open and organised, the workflow smooth and unencumbered. This isn’t a fantasy—it’s a
reality that’s within reach.
Rarely is there too much space in the dispensary; more usually you are squeezed into a less than
adequate room with little free bench surfaces to be seen. By shifting to a stockless or near-
stockless system, practices can repurpose dispensary space for more patient-focused tasks.
Automation tools such as Optum - ProScript Connect PMR with PSUK’s Golden Tote or the Titan
PMR system further simplify the process direct-to-script ordering with a single scan of QR codes
to facilitate dispensing of multiple prescriptions direct from the order.

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P4304.1-V112_PS Magazine - August 25 (print).indd 13 16/07/2025 12:09:58