What Does a Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Do? An Expert's Guide

Full-Service Pharma Wholesalers provide a range of pharmaceutical products and supplies to retailers, hospitals, home healthcare companies, and more. As the second link in the drug supply chain, pharmaceutical distributors purchase medicines from manufacturers and ship them to various locations. With the Verified Accredited Wholesale Distributors (VAWD) program, customers can be sure they are receiving high-quality care. The pharmaceutical supply chain is an intricate system that involves manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers.

It is essential for patients to receive the medications they need without any obstacles. To ensure this happens, wholesalers must take several steps to minimize the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain. Manufacturers have the greatest influence on pharmaceutical product prices. They assess expected demand, future competition, and projected cost of marketing to establish wholesale acquisition cost (WAC).

Wholesalers can also keep prices low by offering discounts to distributors who move more products and pay on time or in advance. Additionally, they may sell short-dated drugs that carry the risk of expiration before sale. The pharmaceutical supply chain faces its own challenges, such as supply chain visibility, counterfeiting medicines, the cold chain, and rising prescription drug prices. To ensure these issues are addressed, wholesalers must implement a package of practical measures.

FDA recommends that prescription drugs only be purchased from licensed drug wholesalers in the United States. Overall, pharmaceutical wholesalers play an important role in the drug supply chain. They purchase medicines from manufacturers and ship them to various locations for retailers, hospitals, home healthcare companies, and more. By taking steps to minimize the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain and offering discounts to distributors who move more products and pay on time or in advance, wholesalers can help keep prices low for customers.

Rachel Celli
Rachel Celli

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