Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes
Introduction:
Agra’s pharmaceutical network is one of North India’s busiest — home to around 867 retail pharmacies and 354 wholesalers or distributors. Behind the everyday flow of medicines lies a deeply traditional, relationship-driven system that keeps the city’s healthcare supply running.
1. The Connected Retailers (≈ 30%)
These are the well-established pharmacies with consistent daily demand and strong ties with multiple stockists.
Their process has evolved — retail employees or owners now send medicine demand lists directly to different stockists via phone calls or WhatsApp or sometimes E-ordering. Most have specific contacts for specific companies, and orders are confirmed digitally.
Because of their reliability, wholesalers and distributors tend to prioritize these retailers, offering credit cycles of up to one month to about 1 in every 10 shops.
Their employees visit Fuvara Market — mainly to consolidate or verify demand, not for daily purchases.
2. The Traditional Retailers (≈ 70%)
The other half of Agra’s pharmacies still rely on physical visits to Fuvara Market. They send an employee each day to collect medicines from multiple distributors.
Those with smaller demand volumes often combine their orders — typically 3–4 shops pooling their lists and sending one representative to handle all purchases.
This system works on trust and routine, but it’s also time-consuming and unorganized, making efficiency dependent entirely on experience and personal networks.
Conclusion:
Agra’s pharma supply chain is a blend of old and new — where digital convenience meets deep-rooted human relationships. But beneath the surface, inefficiencies remain — shaped by habit, hierarchy, and a lack of transparent structure.
