TYPES OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY

(Retail Pharmacy)
DESIGN/LAYOUT OF PHARMACY
COMMUNITY(retail)PHARMACY:

“Is an establishment for selling of the

product(or service) in individual unit to the
final consumer for consumption. Retailers
provide service to the consumer on one
hand(primary retail role), and on the other
hand, serve producers and
wholesalers(secondary retail role)”.
 PLANING TO OPEN A RETAIL
PHARMACY:
The pharmacist who has an aptitude for business,
financially sound and ready to invest money in business
can open a realistic/wholesale drug store. The success of a
drug store depends on a number of factors some of which
are ;
1. its location and proper layout design
2. sound financial management
3. qualified and experienced staff
4. honesty, sincerity and hard work
5. behaviour among staff members and with customers
Considerations For Opening A Retail
Pharmacy
Whenever a person decides to opens a drug store the
most important conciderations are;
1. A DECISION,
whether to establish a new or buy an
established retail pharmacy
Merits of buying an established pharmacy include
1. may have favourable price
2. already has demonstrated the value of its location and thus
,saves time
and efforts of finding a right place
3. pharmacy’s ability to attract customer can be
evaluated/predicted and
com pared with other existing pharmacies.
4. reduced uncertainaities, since various risks are exposed

Demerits of buying an established pharmacy;

1. price may be too high
2. the inventory may be near to expiry
3. reputation or image of the present owner may be poor and will
take time to establish a good repute
4. physical facilities and fixtures may not be according to the
specifications, or outdated, need repairs or replacement
 LAUNCHING A NEW PHARMACY
Launch of a new pharmacy require a comprihensive plan for a
successful business. The planning is needed in various areas including
selection of retail category, financial sources , location decision,
physical facilities , type of license, staffing, and spectrum of activities
to be offered.
After a decision is made to launch a new pharmacy,the following
considerations are made
1. SELECTION OF RETAIL CATEGORY/TYPE OF COMMUNITY
PHARMACY
2. SELECTION OF SITE
For selection of site following factors must be considered
Availability of finances
Density of population
Buying habits of the public
Number of doctors in the surrounding area
Existence of hospital
Number of drug stores existing in the area
Business locality
Flow of traffic , in rural areas or small town
 OPTIONS FOR LOCATION
The two options for location are
1. free standing location
2. shopping centers

3. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF A RETAIL PHARMACY(design and

layout)
4. STAFFING
5. SPECTRUM OF SERVICES
6. PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Legal Requirements To Start A Drug Store

1.Minimum Qualifications
A person who is interested to start a retailsale drug store must be
Registered Pharmacist With State Pharmacy Council
A person who does not possess degree or diploma in pharmacy can also open a
drug store but the licence for the retailsale of drugs will only be granted to a
registered pharmacist employed for the purpose
2. Minimum space
area of 10 square meters
3.Application for the grant of licence
 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF A RETAIL PHARMACY
(Design and Layout)

The location of pharmacy , its management and sufficient capital are

major factors contributing to a pharmacy’s success.
A part from these another major factor is PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .
Physical Characteristics of a pharmacy are used to develop an image
and draw customers , consist of;

(1) DESIGN
a. the exterior design
b. the interior design
(2) STORE LAYOUT
(3) MERCHANDISE PRESENTATION
 (1) DESIGN

a. exterior design
The uniqueness of the
store front and the
creative use of
entrance, display
windows, and
distinctive outdoor
signs can help creat a
favourable pharmacy
image
b). interior design

interior elements that serve as attention

attractors include
fixtures
lightining
flooring
colors
scents and sounds
temperature
width of aisles
cleanliness
modernization
merchandise assortment
display of prices ,and
personnel
(2) STORE LAYOUT
Involves
 Planning the internal arrangement of departments
 Allocating the amount of space for each department
 Arrangement of drugs in each department

Before a pharmacist under takes to design a layout or modernize the

pharmacy
. He should consider the;
n Objectives of the various designs
n The type of community pharmacy
n Types of layout design
n Style of layout design
 OBJECTIVES OF LAYOUT DESIGN
 The major objective in the design of exterior of pharmacy is;
To attract more patrons into the pharmacy
 The overall objective of interior layout design is
To increase the amount of the total purchases of each person who
enters the Pharmacy

In addition to the above, the six specific objectives are

 To enhance the general appearance of the pharmacy and to project a
professional image
 To control payroll expenses through convenience and efficiency of the
layout
 To improve patrons’ satisfaction and convenience
 To maximize the utilization of space
 To disperse and control the traffic pattern within the pharmacy, and
 To provide surveillance and reduce pilferage
 Legal Requirements
(drug Act 1976 and Punjab Drug Rules 2007)
The covered area of the premises is not less than 140
sq ft with minimum breadth of o8 ft in front and height
of 08 ft.
In case of medical store 96 sq ft with minimum breadth
of 08 ft in front and height of 08 ft.
The premises has proper and adequate facility for
storage of drugs and for their protection from direct
sunlight, dust or dirt, including refrigeration facility.
In case of a pharmacy, the person shall display the
word “Pharmacy” in white writing on a green colored
signboard having minimum length of 5 ft and width of
2.5 ft.
In case of a medical store, the person shall display the
word “Medical store” in white writing on a blue colored
signboard having minimum length of 5 ft and width of
2.5 ft.
RETAIL CATEGORY/ TYPE OF COMMUNITY
PHARMACY

Before transforming the idea of retail pharmacy to a real business, the

owner must consider the form of retail to be adopted.
There are four major types of community pharmacies ;

 Pharmaceutical center
 Prescription-oriented pharmacies
 Traditional pharmacies
 The super drug store
 PHARMACEUTICAL
CENTER
-- The pharmaceutical center,
designed and developed by
McKesson & Robbins and
American Pharmaceutical
Association,
-- It is similar to the
prescription-oriented pharmacy,
--The design and layout of this
center is not so critical as with
other types coz no merchandise of
any kind is displayed.
--The inventory is confined to
legend and non legend medication
and few convenient goods.
--The décor ,the atmosphere ,
and the uncluttered floor space
are the hallmarks of the
pharmaceutical center
 PRESCRIPTION –
ORIENTED
PHARMACIES
--This type of pharmacy
usually occupies 1,000 to
2,000 square feet
--and is so designed that the
patrons will have a comfortable
waiting area near the
prescription department
--health related items,
including drugs, home health
care appliances and supplies,
and prescription accessories,
are displayed near its vicinity
--the pharmacy may have
separate room for fitting
trusses and other orthopedic
and surgical appliances.
--Cosmetics, gifts and a
limited number of other items
are displayed in the other
areas of the pharmacy
 TRADITIONAL
PHARMACIES
--The traditional or conventional
pharmacy usually occupies
between 2,000 and 5,000 square
feet .
--the major objective of the layout
design for this type of pharmacy
is to disperse the customers and
expose them to all areas in the
pharmacy
-- These pharmacies also should
have a pleasing appearance,
project a professional
atmosphere, be convenient for
both consumers and employees,
and provide the opportunity for
maximum sales at minimum
expense
--Although traditional pharmacies
vary in design, it is generally
agreed that the best traffic flow
can be achieved with 3:1 length-
to-width ratio
 THE SUPPER DRUG
STORE
-- The supper drug store
occupies more than 5,000
square feet ,
--generally 10,000 square feet or
more, with the design
approximating a square.
--The basic objective in a supper
drug storeis trffic control rather
than traffic dispersal, which is
achieved by the merchandising
techniques used.
--Many lines of goods are sold
in this type of drugstore, and
the layout design is usually of
the self-service type to
facilitate traffic control and to
provide maximum sales at
minimum cost.
 SERVICES OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY;
These major types of retail pharmacies may be
 Individual pharmacy store
 Or chain store
INDEPENDENT / INDIVIDUAL PHARMACY
An independent retail pharmacy is a setup with a single retail store
without branches or any contractual aggreement with
others.independent pharmacy exists at a single location. However , it
may be selling all drug categories including or excluding narcotics and
other controlled drugs.
ADV.
Requires less investment
No profit sharing
Freedom in control and from restrictions
DISADV
The employee will remain an emploee leading to less interest
Unable to attract or retain a qualified person
 CHAIN PHARMCY
Chain pharmacy stores are branched stores existing at various locations but
operating under a common ownership. Chain pharmacy concept was first
initiated a decade ago by FARMACIA, a subsidiary of FEROZESONS,
Nowshehra. This concept is gainning success and there is an increasing trend,
particularly in big cities such as Karachi , Lahore , and Rwalpindi, Islamabad.
Crunnently there are various chain stores at city level including
FAZAL DIN’S PHARMA PLUS
SHAZOO’S ZAKA PHARMACY
PHARMAX
CLINIXPLUS,etc
ADV.
More credibility
Wide geographical coverage through many chains
Economical buying due to bulk purchase making more profit
Able to attract qualified persones because of having job structure
Efficient as can afford use of more employees, better service, sales training ,
use of computer,etc.
Promotional activities can be initiated even with more investment
OWNERSHIP OF COMMUNITY PHARMACY
As far as ownership is concerned community pharmacy is with either
Sole proprietorship
Partnership

TYPES OF LAYOUT DESIGNS

Historic types of service-oriented layout design

3 Types
1) clerk or personal service
2) self-selection
3) self-service

each is designed to achieve the objectives of three basic types of

pharmacies ,i.e
professional,traditional,and drug super store,respectively
1) Clerk service
The clerk service layout is the old traditional design used in
most pharmacies before the trend towards self-service and mass
merchendising.
It consist primarily of complete clerk service with only a small part of
the merchandise exposed for patrons to handle.
This is one of the compulsion for prescription products where there is
no selection of the consumer at retail level. Thus, in this setup there is
no provision of self-service or self-selection .
The pharmacy personnels dominantly provide services for supply of
drugs to the consumers,it facilitates maximum interchange between
pharmacy personnel and patrons.
The modern example of this layout design is the pharmaceutical
center in which no merchandise is on display.
This type of layout design exist for prescription and selected non-
prescription drugs, surgical and orthopedic appliances and supplies.
2) Self selection
In an attemt to provide adequate personal service in a more efficient
manner, and thus be more competitive with the larger super drug
stores, many independent pharmacists now use the self selection layout
design.
This type of layout design dictates that clerk service be maintained at all
service-oriented departments,such as cosmetics, photo supplies ,
prescription, and selected non prescription drugs, surgical and
orthopedic appliances and supplies ,and veterinary departments.
Much of other merchandise, however , is displayed in a manner that
the patrons may see, handle, and select themselves
but prescription item has no possibility of self selection. But it could be
for the nutritional supplements, cosmetics, contraceptives and other
OTC health related items.
A retail setup cannot run totally on self-selection bases on account of
availability of prescription drugs.
This layout is most frequently found in the modern conventional
pharmacies
3) Self service
The term self service is restricted for layout utilizing a minimum
of clerk service and exposes the maximum of customers to handle.
It is not possible to have 100 % self service in pharmacy because of
the prescription drugs and item.
This type of layout is most often used in super drug stores but for
the non-drug items and commodities such as cosmetics and nutritional
supplements.
STYLES OF LAY OUT DESIGN
Styles of layout design emphasize physical configuration of the
layout rather than the degree of service provided .
4 distinct styles have been developed over past 3 decades include;
1) Center service
2) Lobby check out or bull pen
3) Off-the-wall
4) Right rear service, often refer as “self-selection”
 1) Center service
This style features an
elongated , two-sided
wrapping counter and check
out “island” located in or
near the center of the
selling area of the
pharmacy.
Usually convenience goods
such as tobacco, candy and
some times magazines and
photosupplies are stocked in
the island .
the objective is to align the
major traffic-generating
departments around the
perimeter and then pull all
of the traffic through the
check out island in the
center of the pharmacy.
2) Lobby check out
style
This approach utilizes a square,
clerk service check-out island
near the front of the pharmacy
Space b/w front window and
check-out is “LOBBY”
Again tobacco, candy, photo
supplies , and men sundries are
stocked in the island ,
while seasonal and promotional
merchandise are displayed in the
lobby where the traffic is heavy .
the check-out island is
supplemented by a short
wrapping counter in the rear of
the store in front of the
prescription department.
The major traffic generatting
departments are located around
the walls which display counters
or showcases placed in front of
the wall shelves.
3) Off-the-wall
style.
This style features open display
of merchandise on the wall
shelving without showcases or
counters in front of the wall
shelves.
The main wrapping counter ,
short or long , is placed across
the rear of the store in front of
the prescription counter.
One or two rows of gondolas
are placed in the center of the
pharmacy.
This style became popular for
a time coz of the ease and low
cost of installing fixtures.
Large super drug stores utilize
a modification of this style.
1) Right-Rear
service style.
This style frequently is
called self-selection style
coz it accommodates this
concept so well.
The concept permits self-
service where desirable and
thus promotes efficiency
and reduces costs.
At the same time it permits
personal clerk or
professional services as
appropriate.
The right-rear service style
is wel suited for most
traditional pharmacies
especially those that
approximate a 3:1 length to
width configuration..
All the above
mentioned styles of
pharmacies can be
either
Grid layout, or
Free flow

GRID LAYOUT
All counters and
fixtures are at right to
one another so that
merchendise is
displayed in straight,
parallel lines.
Grid layout can be
either
 With out aisles,
or
 With aisels
 FREE-FLOW LAYOUT

Many of the fixtures are irregularly shaped such as circles, arches, and
triangles. Coustmers can move in any direction and wander freely.

ALLOCATION OF SPACE

Store space is a scarce and costly commodity. Allocating more space

for one particular line of merchandise reduces the allocation for
another.
It is the task of pharmacy manager , to allocate store space efficiently
in order to attain the highest possible sales volume at the lowest
possible cost.
Management can perform space allocation in one of the sevsral ways,
including
 Industry averages by type of merchandise
 The sales per square foot method
 LOCATING DEPARTMENT
After allocating space to each department the pharmacy manager must decide
on the locations for the departments within the pharmacy.

--- the prescription department and high-skill or speciality departments should

be located in the rear or toward the rear of the pharmacy.
--- if the pharmacy has a fountain , it should be placed in the rear of the
pharmacy across from the main wrapping counter and the prescription
department.
---if the pharmacy has a surgical and orthopedic appliance department, a
special fitting room is must.
--- a separate washroom for men and women should be located near the
fitting room
--- if pharmacy does not have a fountain , greeting cards and gift department
are the best choice to replace the fountain in the rear of the pharmacy.
--- a photographic department , if developed is another option
--- a special room located in part of the stock room in the rear makes an ideal
veterinary drug department
--- the cosmetic and toiletry department is aligned with the non-prescription
drug and prescription drug departments from front to rear respectively, along
the right or longest wall
--- other departments can be used to fill the remainder of the wall space
opposite the cosmetic and drug side of the pharmacy.
 ARRANGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS
The roducts can be arranged by
Package size
Color
Brands
Customer’s intrest
Price
Alphabatically
According to companies who have supplied the drugs,or
Combinationp of these

The products with more demand and more profits are

displayed at prominent place.

The eye level positions are more attractive as compared

to the position at the bottom shelf.
PLANOGRAMS

“Planograms show in a detailed schematic

plan the amount of space allocated to and
arrangement of each item within a
department.”

To ensure proper shelf positions in all their

outlets, pharmacy chains use planograms to
control the location of each department.
 REFERENCES

Principles And Methods Of Pharmacy Management

By, Harry A. Smith
Drug store and business Management
By, A.K Gupta
Store Evironment An Environmental psycology approach
Journal of retailing
Pharmaceutical Management & Marketing
By, Dr. Mahmood Ahmad
&
Nadeem Irfan
www. Google.com
 Characteristics of layout
A successful store should keep a consumer interested and finally convert the consumer to
a customer. From the customers’ point of view, they would like the shopping process to
be easy and satisfying. They prefer a pleasant shopping environment where the aisles are
wide, the view of the merchandise is clear, the merchandise is easy to find and that there
are sufficient items such that customers won’t experience stock-outs. The retailer should
have effective merchandising and displays in order to increase the satisfaction of
Customers.To achieve this, several principles and characteristics of store layout design
should be considered. Utilization of floor space has an effect on potential customers. The
size of the store is constrained by budget, store type, merchandise assortment and the
volume of sales. The aisle structure should be well designed to facilitate shoppers
browsing and checking out the merchandise. The traffic flow density of the aisles should
be balanced to provide a comfortable and safe shopping environment. Providing
customers with a logical layout of merchandise, such as grouping similar and
complementary products in distinct sections, insures customers can easily find what they
want. Overcrowded displays can confuse and depress customers, however half full
shelves can give the impression that the store is going out of business or the items are out
of stock, which can lower customer goodwill. To effectively display the product, fixtures
including stands, shelves, tables, bins and racks should be carefully chosen and
organized, depending on the type of product sold and the customer demand. Overall there
are both qualitative and quantitative criteria for store layout design.