With India emerging as one of the largest producers of high quality and affordable medicines, the generic pharmaceutical sector is seeing an exponential growth. This surge has caused an increase in the number of generic drugs suppliers in India and has given pharmacists, retailers and healthcare entrepreneurs access to a wide range of medicines at a competitive price. But like every business, medical opportunities also comes with some responsibility. The challenge lies in ensuring that the wholesaler you’re sourcing these medicines from should be compliant, reliable and ideally deal only with the authentic products from licensed generic medicine company.
In a space where patient safety is paramount, verifying the authenticity of the wholesaler is not just for the sake of a good business practice, but should be essential. So how do you differentiate between a genuine supplier and the one who might compromise on quality? Let’s have a look at its breakdown.
Check the drug license and GST registration
The first and most important step in verifying a wholesaler is to ask for their valid drug license. Check if it’s issued by the state drug control organization and/or the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. In India, it is mandatory for any pharmaceutical distributor or even supplier to have a wholesale drug license. They must also have a proper GST registration certificate which proves that they are legally registered business.
Once you get this information, you can cross-check the license number through the CDSCO portal, or you can even consult a local drug inspector to check if these details are right. In case of any discrepancy or if the wholesaler is reluctant to share these details, you should understand that that’s a major red flag.
Ask for tie-ups with certified manufacturers
Any authentic wholesaler will typically work directly with reputable generic medicine companies or just the authorized distributor. So you can ask if they have any evidence to show these business relationships. It can include the letters that confirm their authorized distributorship. It could also be the invoices from manufacturers, some product catalogues which are clearly linked to the source etc. If the wholesaler claims they sourcing from one of the top generic drug suppliers in India, they must have some authentic source to prove it.
Verify the product levels and batch details
Before you place a large order with them, it’s important to see the product samples. Each pack should have the name and address of the manufacturer. We should also be able to check the manufacturing and expiry dates along with the badge and the license number. The modern generic manufacturers sometimes also include QR codes on packaging details in case. Sometimes the packaging might look tampered or misprinted. You should be beware of such sources.
Conduct a background check
It is important, and in fact it is quite easy to go for a quick digital background check for a wholesaler in today’s time. You can start by searching the company’s name on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website, which will confirm their legal legislation and also their operational status. You should also look for online customer reviews or testimonials on platforms like India Mart, Just dial, and of course on Google. A professional wholesaler is ideally supposed to have a functional website with verifiable contact details. For a genuine drug supplier in India, there must also be a consistent digital footprint and an established reputation in the market.
Request product certification
For the reputed wholesalers, there is typically a maintenance of the certificates and lab reports, especially for the export oriented products. Some high quality generics may come with bioequivalence data. While it is not mandatory for every product, but it is good to know that they have it, and also shows their commitment to quality.
Compare pricing
While generic medicines are gaining popularity, you should be cautious about the suppliers which are offering unrealistically low prices. It’s important to remember that generic medicines, of course, come with affordable pricing, but not at the cost of compromising on quality.
Insist on formal agreements and invoices
To maintain transparency in your business, always try to get a formal business documentation before making any purchases. The wholesaler must have an official letterhead which will include all the product and pricing details. You should also receive a pro forma invoice with complete company information, and should also have the GST compliant final invoice.
Monitor delivery and stock management
A professional and authentic wholesaler will have a consistent supply chain management and also will have a well managed delivery system. So when your order arrives, make sure that you check the batch numbers and match with those in the invoice. Cold chilled products must be delivered under temperature controlled conditions. If you notice any damaged packaging, it’s a sign that the wholesaler may not be maintaining proper stock management practices.
India is home to some of the most trusted generic medicine companies and is now a hub for safe and affordable medications. However, as the industry is growing, the risk of encountering substandard effects suppliers are also on the rise. Partnering with the right general drug suppliers is not just a matter of business growth, but it’s a commitment to trust, quality and health care excellence.
