What pharmacy billing software has to do
Pharmacy billing software must track every strip by batch and expiry, put the right details on the bill, and warn the pharmacist before a scheduled drug goes out. In Cartix Prime these pharmacy features are on the Gold plan: batches and expiry, Schedule H, H1 and X prompts, and your drug licence on the bill.
A medical store is not a grocery shop with tablets. The same paracetamol can sit on the shelf in three batches with three expiry dates and three purchase rates. Billing software that ignores this leaves you with expired stock and wrong margins.
Batch and expiry on every line
When you enter a purchase from your distributor, each item goes in with its batch number and expiry date. At the counter, you pick the batch you are selling, and the batch and expiry print on the bill.
- Stock is held batch by batch, so you know how many strips of each batch are left
- Short-expiry items are easier to spot before they become a loss
- If a distributor recalls a batch, you can see whether you have it
Distributor bills are long. On Gold, take a photo of the bill and the items fill themselves, so you check rather than type. Gold also keeps supplier rates, which helps when two distributors quote for the same item.
Schedule H, H1 and X at the counter
Scheduled drugs need a prescription, and some need a record of who bought them. Mark an item as Schedule H, H1 or X once. When it is billed, Cartix Prime prompts the person at the counter, so a new helper does not hand over a Schedule H1 antibiotic without the prescription being checked.
The prompt is a safeguard, not a substitute for your pharmacist or your registers. What records you must keep, and for how long, depends on the drug and your state. Check with your local drugs control office.
Prescriptions and the H1 register
For a bill with a scheduled drug, note the patient, the doctor and the prescription number at the counter. The doctors you see most are a tap away. Schedule H1 and X sales go into a register with the patient, the prescriber and the quantity, ready to show when an inspector asks. Batches close to expiry can be listed and sent back to the supplier they came from.
A bill that looks like a pharmacy bill
Patients, insurance desks and employers expect certain things on a chemist's bill. Cartix Prime can print:
- your drug licence numbers and GSTIN
- batch and expiry against each medicine
- MRP and the savings, for stores that give a discount
- GST by rate, since medicines and other goods can sit in different slabs
Set the HSN code and GST rate on each item. If you are unsure of a rate, ask your CA, and see HSN codes on the invoice.
Regular patients and doctors nearby
Many medical stores give monthly credit to families on long-term medicines. Each customer's balance and limit shows at the counter, with reminders on WhatsApp. Read customer credit and udhaar for ways to keep it under control. Gold also adds smart reorder suggestions, so the diabetes and BP medicines your regulars need are reordered before they run out.
What it does not do
Be clear on the limits. Cartix Prime does not come with a ready drug database, so you add your items yourself or import them from Excel. If your distributor gives an Excel list, that is the quickest start. Once you add an item's salt and strength, the counter can show other medicines with the same composition when a brand is out of stock.
Pharmacist, helper and owner
A medical store often has a registered pharmacist, one or two helpers and an owner who is not always there. Each person gets a PIN, and you choose what each may do. A helper can bill but not change rates or delete items.
On Gold, discounts above what you allow, credit past a customer's limit and voided bills can wait for the owner's approval. The activity log shows who did what, which helps when a strip goes missing. If the net drops, billing carries on and catches up later.
What it costs
| Plan | 1 computer + 1 phone | Phone only |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (pharmacy features) | ₹8,999 | ₹1,899 |
| Platinum (more than one branch) | ₹12,999 | ₹2,599 |
Prices are for a year, before 18% GST. Gold also brings GSTR-1 and 3B ready for your CA, accounts with Tally export, and e-invoices for stores that need them. An extra billing computer is from ₹1,499 a year.
How to start
- Sign up at the start page. The 7-day trial is on Silver, free, no card. Ask us on WhatsApp to look at the Gold pharmacy features with you.
- Import your items from Excel. Exports from Marg and other software are recognised.
- Enter your opening stock batch by batch, starting with fast movers.
- Add your drug licence to the bill design and print a first bill.
For all-round stock work, see inventory management software.
Questions people ask
Which billing software is good for a medical store?
Look for batch-wise stock, expiry tracking, Schedule H prompts, drug licence on the bill, GST by rate and fast entry of distributor bills. Cartix Prime has these on the Gold plan, at ₹8,999 a year with a computer or ₹1,899 phone only, before GST.
How does pharmacy software track expiry?
Each purchase is entered with batch and expiry, and stock is kept batch by batch. You see which batches are close to expiry and pick the batch when billing. In Cartix Prime this is on the Gold plan.
Does pharmacy billing software handle Schedule H drugs?
Cartix Prime lets you mark items as Schedule H, H1 or X and prompts the counter when one is billed. Record-keeping rules depend on the drug and your state, so check them with your drugs control office.
Can I print my drug licence number on the bill?
Yes. On Gold, the drug licence goes on the bill along with batch and expiry for each medicine, your GSTIN and the GST split by rate.
Can I move from Marg to Cartix Prime?
You can bring your items, customers and suppliers from an Excel export. Columns from Marg, Tally, Busy and Vasy exports are recognised. Enter batch-wise opening stock fresh, after a stock count.