Record the batch and expiry of every purchase, let the software sell the nearest-expiry batch first, make it refuse expired batches at the counter, and check a near-expiry list every week so you can return stock to the supplier before it expires.
Selling an expired medicine is a serious offence for a pharmacy and a risk to the patient. It usually happens by accident: an old strip sits behind a new one and gets picked at a busy counter. Software can stop that mistake completely.
1. Enter batch and expiry at purchase
Every purchase bill line needs the batch number, expiry date and MRP. Paracetamol from batch PC2409 (Feb 2027) and PC2402 (Sep 2026) are two different lots, with their own stock.
2. Sell the nearest expiry first (FEFO)
FEFO means "first expiry, first out". When the cashier scans paracetamol, the software takes the batch that expires soonest — not the one bought first. Old stock moves before it becomes a loss.
3. Block expired batches at the counter
The bill should refuse an expired batch outright, with a clear message. A warning the cashier can click past is not enough.
4. Check near-expiry stock every week
Most distributors take back near-expiry stock only within a window. A weekly near-expiry list — say, everything expiring in the next 60 days — tells you what to push, discount or return.
| Batch | Expiry | Stock | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC2402 | Sep 2026 | 3 | Blocked — return to supplier |
| PC2409 | Feb 2027 | 34 | Sells first |
| PC2412 | Jun 2027 | 60 | Next |
How Billman does it
With the Batch Sale add-on, Billman keeps batch, expiry and MRP for every lot, shows a Select Batch list at billing, sells FEFO when you set Stock reduction to "FEFO (earliest expiry sells first)", and refuses expired lots at the counter by default. The Expiry / Near-Expiry tab lists what to act on.
✨In BillmanBillman for pharmaciesSee how it works →FAQ
What is FEFO in a pharmacy?
First expiry, first out — the batch that expires soonest is sold first, whatever the purchase date.
Can customers still return an expired medicine?
Yes. In Billman, returns accept expired lots; only sales are blocked.
Can I see batch-wise stock?
Yes — every batch has its own stock, expiry and MRP.
Never sell an expired strip again
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