Drug sales subdued in July over lingering GST issues

Pharmaceuticals are still confused over tax rates of certain products

Pharmaceutical sales are yet to pick up three weeks after the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) due to the lingering effects of software updation, delays in registration and confusion over tax rates of certain products.

Distributors held 22-day inventory on July 21, which was five days higher than June-end stock but 18 days lower than May-end level, according to the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD).

"There has been a slow and gradual build-up of inventory days," said Ameesh Masurekar, director of AIOCD-AWACS. The primary sales had been impacted due to