Set Up A Retail Pharmacy

Introduction

Over the past few years, there is a growth in retail pharmacies in Malaysia.



Marketing

Marketing is human activity directed at satisfying needs and wants through exchange process.

  • Needs - Essential for survival.
  • Wants - Needs shaped by culture and personality.
  • Demand - Wants backed by purchasing power.

Human Needs



Create a Plan

Before opening any business, it is important to locate a good location after studying

  • Population characteristics (e.g. total size, age and income distribution, buying power, occupation trends)
    • Prescriptions will be in higher demands in areas where there is an older demographic.
  • Competitive characteristics (e.g. location and number of competitors)
    • A new pharmacy should be located at least 300 meters radius from an existing pharmacy outlet.
  • Physician availability (e.g. number and type of physicians)
    • Open near a hospital
  • Financing (e.g. source of funds)
    • Evaluate occupancy cost of the location
  • Location characteristics (e.g. accessibility to customers and transportation)
    • Useful to be in or near major business district, making it a high-traffic area.

Define your niche and provide a compelling reason for customers to choose your pharmacy.

  • Friendly service is not enough, because every other pharmacy in your area is also emphasizing it.

NOTE: Alternatively, you may also start up a pharmacy business by purchasing an existing pharmacy.



Register Company with SSM

In starting a business, we need to setup a company.

  • Business firms (e.g. sole proprietor (enterprise) or partnerships)
    • Governed under Registrar of Business Act 1956.
    • All contracts are signed in the name of the individuals who own the business and their liability is unlimited.
  • Registered companies
    • Governed under Companies Act 1965 (companies registered before 2017) or Companies Act 2016 (companies registered since 1 January 2017).
    • The most common type of company registration in Malaysia is "Sendirian Berhad" or "Sdn Bhd" (translated as - private limited).
  • Regulated by Companies Commission of Malaysia ("Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia", SSM).



Applying Pharmacy License

Applying Pharmacy License

The most crucial step in operating a retail pharmacy is obtaining Type A retail license.

  • Make your application through MyPharma-C website.
  • The License A have to be renewed annually.

In summary, documents needed include

  • A copy of your IC
  • An updated passport sized photo of yourself
  • Fully Registered Pharmacist Certificate
  • Annual Practicing Certificate (ARC) for current year
  • SSM Certificate
  • Business premise licenses and signboard licenses from the local authorities
  • Layout plan of your pharmacy

NOTE: For registered companies, registration as "Body Corporate" in PRiSMA website is required (governed by Registration of Pharmacists Act 1951).



Review the Community Pharmacy Benchmarking Guideline

Community Pharmacy Benchmarking Guideline, 2016 serves a set of standards that needs to be complied with for the purpose of community pharmacy practice set up, training activities, audits and complementing the licensing requirement.


Management

The community pharmacist should have full management control of the pharmacy practice.

  • Inform any changes in shareholding to the licensing officer and/or any other relevant authorities.


Premises

The pharmacy premise cannot be shared with any other non-pharmacy related practices and business (including Multi-Level Marketing business).

The Medicine dispensing area should

  • be a minimum of 18 square meter (193 square feet)
  • Consists of prescription counter, counselling area and medicines preparation area (dry and wet compounding).

Refrigerator should be maintained at temperature between 2-8°C with a proper monitoring system.

  • Records of temperature is available and verified.
  • Do not store food or drinks in the refrigerator used for the storage of medicines.


Signboard and advertisement

Pharmacy signboard must project the professional image of a pharmacy.

Any form of products advertisements displayed to public must be in accordance with the relevant legislations/guidelines.

The types of services offered (e.g. blood glucose test, blood pressure monitoring, patient medication review, smoking cessation) should be displayed clearly inside the premises.

Notice of the pharmacist(s) on duty to be displayed must include

  • Name of pharmacist(s)
  • Time and date/day of duty
  • Photo

Registration Certificate and Annual Certificate for the pharmacist in-charge should be displayed clearly.

"No Smoking" and "No Vaping" signs must be displayed prominently to promote healthy lifestyle.

Designed areas are indicated clearly, such as "Prescription Counter" or "Pharmacy".

Pharmacies are encouraged to use the community pharmacy logo.

Community Pharmacy Logo


References

The following references should be available

  • British National Formulary or Australian Formulary
  • Code of Conduct for Pharmacist and Bodies Corporate
  • All relevant pharmacy legislations


Practice

70% of the merchandise in a community pharmacy should consist of registered pharmaceutical products, health and nutritional products, surgical and medical devices, personal care and rehabilitation aids.

  • Sale of goods and food which is harmful to health is strictly prohibited.
  • Non-pharmacy products, e.g. gift items, cards and drinks should be minimised.

Ratio of pharmacist to prescription should not exceed 80 to 100 prescriptions per pharmacist day.

  • Name tag with the word "Pharmacist".
  • Minimum 40 hours/week with pharmacist.
  • Records and documentations should be kept and updated systematically as stipulated by the law.

Pharmacy assistants with diploma in pharmacy are preferred.

  • The roles of the pharmacy assistant are to help in the preparation of medicines to be dispensed. They are not allowed to dispense scheduled poisons without a pharmacist.

Poison B and Poison C items as listed in Part I of the Poison List should be kept in a locked cabinet to prevent access to customers and unauthorised personnel.

  • Distinct categories of items are systematically arranged.
  • Separate storage is provided for internal and external medicines.
  • A separate, safe and locked cabinet should be used for storage of psychotropic substances and dangerous drugs.
  • All keys must be kept by the pharmacist.
  • Storage conditions must comply with manufacturer instructions and cold chain requirements where relevant. Refer to Guidelines on Good Distribution Practice (GDP).



Summary

Starting an independent pharmacy is a complex process, so take advantage of expert knowledge to guide you (e.g. talking with mentors, state pharmacy board and association, the legal and financial experts).



External Links

Comments

Post a Comment