# Pharmacy step 2: import the Pharmacy catalog

> Import medicines from the Product Library Pharmacy catalog with generic, strength, form, pack size and tablet, strip and box units ready for sale.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/pharmacy/step-2-product-library-pharmacy-catalog/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

The **Pharmacy** catalog of the Product Library holds more than 23,000 medicines and non-medicine pharmacy products. Each medicine comes with its brand (manufacturer), category by body system and therapeutic class, generic name, strength, dosage form, pack size, Rx or OTC status and, for tablets and capsules, ready-made **tablet, strip and box** units.

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** Product Library must be included in your plan
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › Business Settings › Modules › Product Library (off by default)
> 3. **Permission:** Import products from the Product Library

## Before you start

- [Step 1](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/pharmacy/step-1-pharmacy-settings/) is done (expiry, lot numbers).
- Decide which tax rate applies to medicines, if any.

## 1. Find your medicines

1. Open **Products › Product Library** and click the **Pharmacy** tab.
2. The tree on the left has two departments: **Medicines** (by body system › therapeutic class) and **Non-medicine products**. The **Brands** tab lists manufacturers.
3. Search by medicine name, brand or barcode, for example "Panadol 500mg".

![Pharmacy catalog tab with Medicines and Non-medicine products departments and medicine cards with barcodes](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/product-library-pharmacy-catalog.GcbBOez4.png) (web app page: `/product-library?catalog=pharmacy`)
*The Pharmacy catalog. Many medicines have photos; the rest show a placeholder.*

## 2. Check a medicine before importing

Click **Preview**. The **Medicine** section shows the generic / formula, strength, dosage form, pack size, prescription status (for example "Over the counter (OTC)"), therapeutic class and manufacturer. The **Units** section shows the base unit and sub-units it will be imported with.

![Preview of Panadol 500mg Tablet 20x10 with brand GSK Consumer Healthcare, category path and description listing generic, strength, form and pack](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/product-library-pharmacy-preview-medicine.BrmvxXrZ.png) (web app page: `/product-library?catalog=pharmacy`)
*The medicine preview: basics, descriptions, variations and barcodes.*

![Preview specifications with Generic Paracetamol, Strength 500mg, Dosage form Tablet, Pack size 20 strips x 10 tablets, and Units Tablet base with Strip of 10 and Box of 200](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/product-library-pharmacy-preview-units.Cqrg16rR.png) (web app page: `/product-library?catalog=pharmacy`)
*Medicine details and units: Tablet is the base unit; Strip of 10 and Box of 200 are sub-units.*

## 3. Import

1. Tick the medicines (cards) or classes (tree) you stock.
2. Click **Import**, choose the **Business locations**, the **Tax** and keep **Manage stock for these products** ticked.
3. Review the check: what will be created, reused and skipped.
4. Click **Import now** and wait for the progress bar to finish.

The general import steps with screenshots are in [Mart step 2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/mart/step-2-product-library-mart-catalog/) and [Product Library](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/product-library/).

## 4. After the import

- **Units**: your Units list now has the pharmacy units (Bottle, Strip, Box, Sachet, Tube…). **Enable Sub Units** is switched on automatically.
- **Prices**: set the price per tablet (or per bottle, tube…); strip and box prices follow. Use **Products › Update Price** for many at once.
- **Opening stock**: enter it with lot numbers and expiry dates ([step 4](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/pharmacy/step-4-purchases-batches-and-expiry/)).

![Units list with Bottle, Box of 10 strips, Pack, Pieces, Sachet, Strip (10), Tin, Tub / Jar and Tube](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/pharmacy-units.DVp_mavy.png) (web app page: `/units`)
*Pharmacy units in Products › Units.*

  - [Step 3: Medicine details, generic and Rx](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/pharmacy/step-3-medicine-details-generic-and-rx/)
  - [Product Library module](https://docs.smartposhub.com/modules/product-library/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What units does an imported tablet get?

Tablets and capsules get Tablet or Capsule as the base unit plus sub-units such as Strip of 10 (Tablet) and Box of 200 (Tablet), based on the pack. Stock is counted in tablets.

### What about syrups, creams and injections?

They get one unit that fits the pack - Bottle, Tube, Vial, Ampoule or Inhaler. Unclear packs are imported as Pack.

### Are prices included?

No. The Pharmacy catalog has no prices. Imported medicines start at 0; set your prices after the import.

### How is the price of a strip worked out?

The price is stored per base unit (one tablet). A strip of 10 sells at ten times the tablet price and a box at its tablet count times the tablet price.

### Can I import only the medicines I stock?

Yes. Search by name, brand or barcode and tick single products, or tick a therapeutic class in the department tree.

### What if a medicine is not in the catalog?

Add it yourself with Products › Add Product, using the same units and the Pharmacy product fields.
