UK pharmacies get sales tracking service

NEWS Software specialist, IMS Health, is launching an over-the-counter tracking service for the UK pharmaceutical industry. Known as PharmaTrend, the service will monitor the sale of drugs and healthcare products through pharmacies and supermarkets by collecting data from bar code scanners. John Lawson, director of the self-medication division at IMS Health, explained that only shops with an electronic point of sale (Epos) system installed on their tills could take part in the scheme. "With some 8,500 pharmacies in the UK - only around 1,000 use Epos. This obviously doesn't give us the full picture," he admitted. Lawson explained that following three years of development the system could supply retailers with all necessary information on what drugs are being sold and where from. "This will give us more expertise in informing our clients of consumer purchasing from their outlets," he said. The system offers information to help retailers identify consumer patterns and target sales more efficiently. Eleven European countries, including France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, are already using PharmaTrend.