Pharmacy Companies & Pharmacy Operations

Shoppers Drug mart is a retail pharmacy chain now owned by Loblaw Companies founded by Murray Koffler in 1962. It is now operating with 1300+ stores in Canada. It started off by selling pharmaceutical items is now a leading retail store in Canada, but today it offers both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical items ranging from high end cosmetics to food items. You name it and they have it. These stores are located very conveniently which are possessed and worked by Company’s authorized proprietors who have helped fabricate the brand that is synonymous with uncommon administration, esteem and trust. It was acquired by Loblaw Companies for $12.4 billion in 2013. Notwithstanding its retail designs, the organization claims and works few forte services which includes Shoppers Home Health Care, Speciality Health Network and MediSystem Pharmacy. (Shoppers drug mart, n.d)

A Pharmacy Operations manager will be a specialist in pharmacy operations and medication-use systems. The manager will take his duties in the areas of pharmacy operations and oversight, training pharmacists, technicians and other employees, formula compounding and preparation, compliance and report directly to the director of the pharmacy.

Major responsibilities of Pharmacy operations manager include:

1. Oversee and synchronize the procurement, tracking, storage and distribution of all pharmacy inventories in providing of service to its customers.
2. Provide direct administrative support to the Super Drugs Director via assisting in the development, implementation, and maintenance of new or expanded medication and pharmacy services or programs.
3. Ensure compliance with all the state and regulatory requirements for the procurement, storage and distribution of sterile and non- sterile pharmaceutical inventories.
4. Review reports for any medication errors, unfavorable drug events, ineffective services or operations, problem identification. Study, analyze and implement quality improvement measures of improving the performance of the store.
5. Monitor employee’s performance, coordinate and lead team, help in professional development of individual pharmacists by mentoring and competency development and serve as an advisor to them.
6. Identify and build such business areas according to the arising future needs of patients, developing strategic plan developments and implementation of pre-determined goals.
7. Supervise records of all the transactions of pharmacy necessary to enough control over and answerability for all the drugs as required by state laws and regulations to meet all standards of inspections and governing operations.
8. Consult, refer and cooperate with director of pharmacy at the store and other disciplinarians who are involved in providing patient care services for development of programs, services and grants.

Job responsibilities found interesting are:

1. Working for organizational strategic development plans as it involves directly working for the development of organization in which the pharmacy operation manager can use his acquired skills and knowledge to work for the same and providing effective leadership will prove himself as asset to the organization.
2. Oversee operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store without any complications which helps in achieving targets on time as well as better client care services.

Job responsibilities disliked are as follows:

1. Each and every time reporting and taking approvals from the director which leads to slowing of work and operations manager feels less authoritative to take decisions.
2. Managing and coordinating with different types of employees working at the store because there might be difference in views and opinions and chances of clashes might arise internally hampering the smooth functioning.

Salary differs from place to place; current salaries are based to Toronto. The reason why the salary is above 100K because of the area and the task done by the Operation manager. In a Pharmacy chain like Shoppers drug mart it is very important to perform the duties like managing operations, planning & maintaining the budget, staffing and ensure store targets. The company can afford to pay this high for the smooth functioning of the store and growth for the company.YES, I am interested in this job. This job would be interesting to pursue as it will add my experience of Operations Management and knowledge of Pharmacy uniquely to this retail. The best thing would be working in pharmacy with managerial operations and get fair wedges with all the benefits. I will also get a chance to endure my leadership skills.

Critical decisions of Operations Manager:

1. Design of Goods and Services – This is under the department of merchandising and marketing where they decide how all the goods and services should be offered to its customers. Also, the other task is how it should be designed. They design different offers according to the dates i.e. Halloween theme when it is near. The company does this as it is expanding in retail operations selling FMCG products along with the pharmaceuticals.
2. Location Strategy – As a pharmacy it is located in areas near shopping malls as it is very convenient for its customers to reach them. They are more than 1300 stores in Canada so location is a very prime factor. They have many retail formats so it is very important to select where to keep which facility.
3. Layout Strategy – Store layout is another important factor. Where to create what and where to put what. This decision is to impress the customers. They make a retail layout in the front end of the store and in the back end is the pharmacy. Every Shoppers Drug Mart is designed like this.
4. Supply Chain Management – It has a responsibility of managing the category and branding for corporates. It also accounts to ship goods and services and make them available in stores. The other main thing is managing the inventory and performing logistics.
5. Human Resource and Job Design – Having progressive policies for workplace, providing regular training and proposing competitive wages along with employee incentives. They believe in attracting the best employees for the company. Investing in human resource have made them intensified. Along with the training there are reward programs. “Programs have been designed to pursue rewarding careers, and that we are able to deliver consistently high levels of service in every position, in every store, every day.” (careers.shoppersdrugmart, n.d.)
6. Maintenance – The employee team as a whole is responsible for the maintenance of the store. They also have some other responsibilities like corporate and consumer affairs, engaging in events and maintaining public relation. Mission Statement of Shoppers drug mart“to be the leader in helping Canadians discover a healthier outlook on life.” This statement is supported by a collection of core values which drive them towards their mission.

Core Values:

• Ownership
• Accountability
• Passion for result
• Customer-driven innovation
• People and Community(Mission statement, n.d.)

Shoppers Drug Mart is the largest retail format offering pharmaceuticals along with health and beauty products. To accomplish their mission, they have a continues innovations in their stores. As they are Customer-driven they work for the demands of their customer. It started as a retail pharmacy store but now it is selling all the products which are of daily use. By which its customers can avoid going to convenience store and they can earn out of it.

Providing OPTIMUM card which benefits its employees by collecting reward points for discounts is one of the best strategies used by the company. It is expanding daily and have become Canada’s most trusted service brand. In core competence to maintain its customers it also debuts a new platform for all the beauty products. It has been expanding in all the broad categories with non-pharmacy at peak in last decade. This has helped Shoppers Drug mart to become a competitive advantage to Raxall.

Bibliography:

1. Glassdoor. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/toronto-pharmacy-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM976_KO8,24.htm
2. Mission statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://schoolworkhelper.net/shoppers-drug-mart-background-mission-statement-trademarks/