PCD stands for Propaganda Cum Distribution. It means a pharmaceutical company gives you the right to sell and promote its products - under its brand, in your own territory.
In plain terms
The company makes the medicine. You take it to the doctors and chemists in your district. The company supplies you at a fixed rate, and the whole difference between that rate and the printed MRP is your margin. The products carry the company's brand, not yours.
The part that matters most is monopoly rights - in the district allotted to you, the company will not give that same division to anyone else.
PCD versus ordinary distributorship
| PCD Franchise | Ordinary Distributor |
|---|
| Territory | Monopoly - only you | Several distributors in one area |
| Price competition | None - nobody undercuts you | Yes, frequently |
| Doctor relationship | Yours, you build it | The company's |
| Promotional material | Provided | Usually not |
| Investment | Low - only the stock | Higher |
How it works in practice
- You pick your district and ask the company what is available
- You provide your drug licence and GST documents
- You choose products to suit the doctors in your area
- You place the first order (ours is a minimum of Rs. 25,000)
- Monopoly rights are issued on letterhead
- Stock arrives with promotional material
- You call on doctors, they prescribe, the chemist orders
Who takes a PCD franchise
Most PCD partners are medical representatives setting up on their own - they already have the doctor relationships. After them come chemists, medical store owners, and people who have worked in the pharma line before.
Only two things are essential: a valid drug licence and GST registration.
Which range should you take
That depends on the doctors in your area. Our ortho range is the largest, gynae gives the most dependable repeat business, and derma carries the best margin. Full PCD detail here.