The provision of medication to the general public is an enormous economic exercise. The pharma industry generates billions in income every year, and there is a pill or medicine for just about every illness that doctors recognize, in addition to an entire sub-industry of fitness, diet and beauty products. Pharmacies are the retail operators in the industry, but they also have to consider certain factors when transacting with an over-the-counter or OTC medicine wholesaler.
Importers and manufacturers provide the wholesalers with the products that are sold on to the pharmacies. The wholesale operators therefore should have the ability to analyze prices in terms of the international environment. This may necessitate accommodating the currency exchange rate, or a comparison of the varying features of rival niche offerings, such as fitness supplements or unresearched natural alternative remedies.
Another source of contention in the medication industry is patent. Patented drugs cannot be supplied by anyone other than their manufacturer. This makes their price higher and their supply more limited. Pharmaceutical companies are usually extremely reluctant to relinquish the patent on a successful product and will even try to extend its period of enforcement.
If a patent does eventually expire, other manufacturers try to supply their generic products to the industry. Generic medication is always much cheaper, but it may be manufactured far away, such as overseas. Negotiating successfully with foreign providers so as to acquire the cheapest generic option is something that the wholesaler needs to be able to do.
But there is another issue besides the price. Medicines are specially designed chemical formulations. They are used to treat specific symptoms. Some of them have severe side-effects. People who sell them should be able to examine a new tablet or capsule to determine its chemical composition, its effectiveness and, last but definitely not least, its safety. This might be harder to do if the manufacturer is based overseas or has no track record of exporting to a certain country.
The precise nature of medications is of heightened significance in OTC applications. The people who use OTC medicine do not have the prescription of a medical practitioner. Some of them might be able to name the product they want, but others rely on the sales assistant or pharmacist to tell them what they should take, based on the symptoms that they describe. The success of OTC medicines may not always be because of their appropriateness so much as their generally powerful effect on the person who takes them.
Another factor in the dispensing of OTC medication is the extent of education of the customer. Many customers cannot understand how a tablet works or why it is necessary. They are also unable to understand the terminology used on the package leaflet. Because they have no prescription or medical advice, they are putting complete faith in the pharmacist's recommendation. This tasks the wholesaler with the responsibility of supplying only those products which are approved as safe and appropriate.
Customers who use OTC medicine might be trying to save money or time by avoiding a trip to the doctor. Wholesalers determine what is available domestically through their importing strategies. They need to try hard to get the best medicine at the lowest price for the population.
Importers and manufacturers provide the wholesalers with the products that are sold on to the pharmacies. The wholesale operators therefore should have the ability to analyze prices in terms of the international environment. This may necessitate accommodating the currency exchange rate, or a comparison of the varying features of rival niche offerings, such as fitness supplements or unresearched natural alternative remedies.
Another source of contention in the medication industry is patent. Patented drugs cannot be supplied by anyone other than their manufacturer. This makes their price higher and their supply more limited. Pharmaceutical companies are usually extremely reluctant to relinquish the patent on a successful product and will even try to extend its period of enforcement.
If a patent does eventually expire, other manufacturers try to supply their generic products to the industry. Generic medication is always much cheaper, but it may be manufactured far away, such as overseas. Negotiating successfully with foreign providers so as to acquire the cheapest generic option is something that the wholesaler needs to be able to do.
But there is another issue besides the price. Medicines are specially designed chemical formulations. They are used to treat specific symptoms. Some of them have severe side-effects. People who sell them should be able to examine a new tablet or capsule to determine its chemical composition, its effectiveness and, last but definitely not least, its safety. This might be harder to do if the manufacturer is based overseas or has no track record of exporting to a certain country.
The precise nature of medications is of heightened significance in OTC applications. The people who use OTC medicine do not have the prescription of a medical practitioner. Some of them might be able to name the product they want, but others rely on the sales assistant or pharmacist to tell them what they should take, based on the symptoms that they describe. The success of OTC medicines may not always be because of their appropriateness so much as their generally powerful effect on the person who takes them.
Another factor in the dispensing of OTC medication is the extent of education of the customer. Many customers cannot understand how a tablet works or why it is necessary. They are also unable to understand the terminology used on the package leaflet. Because they have no prescription or medical advice, they are putting complete faith in the pharmacist's recommendation. This tasks the wholesaler with the responsibility of supplying only those products which are approved as safe and appropriate.
Customers who use OTC medicine might be trying to save money or time by avoiding a trip to the doctor. Wholesalers determine what is available domestically through their importing strategies. They need to try hard to get the best medicine at the lowest price for the population.
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