Medicine Inventory 8 min read Updated: 2026-03-01

How to Reduce Medicine Expiry Loss: 7 Proven Strategies

Actionable strategies used by top-performing pharmacy chains to reduce expiry write-offs to under 0.5% of gross turnover.

Key Takeaways for Pharmacy Owners

Set up 90-day supplier return calendars so expiring medicines are returned before distributor cutoff dates.
Bundle slow-moving near-expiry products with chronic refill orders at modest discounts.
Track distributor credit note issuance to ensure return balances are credited to your account.

1. Strategy 1: The 90-60-30 Escalation Workflow

Categorize your inventory into 3 risk zones: 90 days remaining (flag for distributor return), 60 days remaining (initiate immediate return or clearance), 30 days remaining (quarantine to prevent accidental dispensing).

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