How Are Pharmacy Shelves Best Arranged?
There is no one set solution to pharmacy layout. The shop floor plan and pharmacist-only areas can vary depending on how the pharmacy operates and its location. However, the main purpose of any pharmacy should always be to meet the needs of the community.
Some key factors that can influence shelving layout include:
• The age range of the community.
• The general health and wellbeing within the community.
• Whether the pharmacy is part of a wider chain and needs to follow specific SOPs (e.g. Morrisons, Tesco, or other supermarket pharmacies).
• Whether it is a chain or independent pharmacy.
• The size of the pharmacy, including both shop floor and back-of-house areas.
• The storage systems available (e.g. modular drawer systems, storage bins, etc.).
As a result, there’s no single way to arrange pharmacy shelving. However, most pharmacies share common layout principles that can help guide an effective and efficient setup.
Modular Drawer Storage Systems
Modular drawer storage systems are widely considered best practice for pharmacies. Where accessible and efficient layouts are essential, the customisable nature of modular shelving and drawer systems offers significant advantages.
Changes in demand – whether due to new treatments, increased stock requirements, or updated health guidelines such as social distancing – can impact how your space needs to function. Having adaptable drawer systems in place allows your pharmacy to respond quickly and continue operating efficiently.
Pharmacy Storage Bins
Pharmacy storage bins are most commonly used in back of house areas. They are typically deeper and designed to hold consistent medications for quick access during prescription dispensing.
Standard practice is to organise them in rows, making it easier to scan and locate the correct medication efficiently.
These bins can be made from transparent materials so contents are visible, or clearly labelled for identification. Some also feature lids and top-loading designs, allowing stock to move forward automatically as items are removed.
Pharmacy Shelves Arrangement Methods
We’ve touched on how best practice for pharmacy layouts should prioritise accessibility, and how modular drawer storage systems help keep your space flexible across both front and back of house. However, how shelving is arranged outside of customer areas will depend on how your pharmacy operates.
There are several ways to organise medications, and the method you choose can have a significant impact on prescription efficiency – particularly in smaller back-of-house spaces. For simplicity, the examples below focus on the use of pharmacy storage bins.
Alphabetical
Sorting medications alphabetically is a familiar system for most people, making it easy to scan storage bins and locate the correct medication. In practice, many pharmacies organise stock by generic drug names or INN (international nonproprietary names).
This approach requires pharmacists to be familiar with multiple names for the same drug to avoid errors when dispensing. It can also present challenges when medications have similar-sounding names, particularly for individuals with conditions such as dyslexia.
Types
Some pharmacies choose to organise medications by type – for example, separating bottles, creams, pills, and boosters into dedicated sections. This requires pharmacists to be familiar with the visual appearance of different medications.
In most cases, this method works best when combined with an alphabetical system. On its own, it may slow down retrieval, particularly in larger pharmacies, and is typically more suited to commonly used medications or smaller environments.
Converse!
Regardless of how your modular drawer storage system is arranged, clear communication between pharmacy staff is essential. Involving your team in layout decisions can help identify inefficiencies and improve day to day operations.
Inov8 provides bespoke and ready-to-buy shelving solutions designed to work around your pharmacy. If you’d like tailored advice, get in touch – we’ll work with you to create a solution that supports your workflow and helps your pharmacy thrive.
Where here to help
- If you are looking for some help designing your pharmacy floor space of shelving systems we have over 40 years of experience to help you achieve what you need for your business. Contact us here or call today on 0845 556 4371
