A credit book for pharmacies

How credit happens in a pharmacy

A neighbourhood pharmacy knows its regular patients. An elderly customer waiting for a pension pays their share next week; a parent buying something for a sick child brings the money the next day. The amounts are small but there are many of them, and some stay open for months.

Sometimes a relative or neighbour picks things up and someone else pays later. Having all of this written down keeps things clear with the patient and with your own till.

This page is only about keeping track of money owed. It gives no advice on medicines, prescriptions, insurance or professional rules; follow your local regulations and professional body.

Points to be careful about

• Short notes: a credit book is not a health record. Do not write diagnoses or conditions; a product name or “patient share” is enough.
• Privacy: a paper book on the counter can be seen by anyone. The book on your phone can be locked with a PIN, face or fingerprint.
• Collected by a relative: keep the account in the patient’s name and note who collected.
• Amounts left open for long: small sums are forgotten; the overdue list brings them back in front of you.

Setting up a pharmacy book in Baki Fast

1. Turn on the app lock in settings, so the book stays hidden even if someone else picks up your phone.
2. Add a customer for each patient you give credit to, with their phone number or a family member’s.
3. Write the amount as credit with a short note: “patient share” or “sunscreen”.
4. If a payment date is agreed, such as pension day, add a due date. Late entries appear on the overdue list.
5. When they pay, write a payment. If you like, print a small payment receipt on a thermal printer.

A discreet reminder

Keep product names and details out of reminder messages; the amount and the pharmacy’s name are enough. That way, if someone else reads the message, the patient’s privacy is still protected.