Running a pharmacy without proper billing software is a compliance risk. Between Schedule H drug logs, batch number tracking, expiry date management, and GST on medicines — a generic billing app simply won't cut it. Medical store billing software must be built specifically for pharmacy workflows.
This guide covers everything you need to know before choosing billing software for your pharmacy or medical store in India.
What Makes Pharmacy Billing Different
Unlike a regular retail shop, a pharmacy deals with:
- Batch Numbers — Every medicine has a batch number that must appear on the bill for traceability
- Expiry Dates — Stock should be sold earliest-expiry-first (FEFO) so you never dispense an expired medicine
- GST on Medicines — Since 22 September 2025 most medicines attract 5% GST (most were 12% before), and listed life-saving drugs are 0%. Non-medicine products carry their own rates, so your software must handle this per item
- Drug Licensing — Schedule H and H1 drugs require prescription recording
- Supplier Returns — Expiring or damaged stock must be returned with proper debit notes
Good pharmacy software alerts you 90 days before medicines expire — giving you time to return stock to distributors and avoid dead inventory losses.
Must-Have Features in Pharmacy Billing Software
| Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Batch & Expiry Tracking | Legal requirement + avoids expired stock losses |
| FEFO Billing | Auto-selects the batch that expires first when billing |
| Expiry Alerts (90/60/30 days) | Time to return stock before it expires |
| GST Invoice with HSN | Correct rate per item: 5% for most medicines, 0% for listed life-saving drugs |
| Prescription Details | Schedule H/H1 compliance: record the prescribing doctor |
| Supplier Outstanding | Track what you owe distributors |
| Purchase Order | Order from distributors with one click |
| Drug Group / Category | Organise 500+ medicines by therapeutic category |
Billux for Pharmacy — What's Included
Billux includes a dedicated pharmacy mode that activates automatically when you register as a medical store. It adds:
- Batch number + expiry date on every purchase and sale
- Expiry alerts grouped into expired and due within 30, 60 and 90 days
- Earliest-expiry-first (FEFO) batch selection at the counter; expired batches are not offered
- Drug group and manufacturer fields per medicine
- Schedule H, H1 and X flags: the counter asks for the prescribing doctor's name before billing those medicines
- A starter list of common medicines you can import, then check and edit
Pricing: How Much Does Pharmacy Billing Software Cost?
Pharmacy billing software in India ranges from free general apps to installed pharmacy packages with a licence and yearly fees. Compare written quotes, and check these points:
- Free tools — Usually no batch tracking, no expiry alerts, not built for pharmacy
- Installed pharmacy software — Feature-rich, but usually a licence plus yearly fees, installed on each PC
- Billux Standard — ₹2,500 + GST a year on the web, cloud-based, with the pharmacy counter and batch and expiry tracking, up to 2 users
- Billux Professional — ₹5,000 + GST a year on the web, adds multi-branch, multi-godown and unlimited users
Cloud vs Desktop Pharmacy Software
Traditional installed pharmacy software usually works on one computer or a local network. If that computer crashes, your data is at risk. Cloud-based pharmacy billing like Billux works on any device, backs up automatically, and lets you check sales from your phone.
The trade-off: the Billux pharmacy counter needs an internet connection. If your connection is unreliable, keep a mobile hotspot ready as a backup.
Try Billux free for 7 days at billux.in/register — choose "Pharmacy" during setup and your counter will be ready in minutes.
For the current medicine rates, see our new GST rates list. For reorder levels, stock counts and FIFO vs weighted-average valuation, see our inventory management guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GST rate on medicines now?
Since 22 September 2025, most drugs and medicines attract 5% GST, down from 12% for most. Life-saving drugs listed in the nil-rate notification are 0%. Non-medicine products in the shop carry their own rates.
What is FEFO in pharmacy billing?
FEFO means first expiry, first out: at billing, the software picks the batch that expires soonest, so older stock is sold before it expires. Billux's pharmacy counter does this automatically and does not offer expired batches.
Does pharmacy billing software need prescription details?
For Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules require prescription-only sale and records. Billux lets you flag such medicines; the counter then asks for the prescribing doctor's name before billing them.
How early should a pharmacy get expiry alerts?
About 90 days before expiry gives time to sell the stock or return it to the distributor. Billux groups stock into expired and expiring within 30, 60 and 90 days.
How much does pharmacy billing software cost?
Free general apps rarely handle batches and expiry. Installed pharmacy packages usually charge a licence plus yearly fees. Billux costs ₹2,500 + GST a year (Standard on the web, with batch and expiry tracking) or ₹5,000 + GST a year (Professional on the web, adding multi-branch and multi-godown).
