Covid-19 lockdown: After April shock, drug sales improve in May

Till May 15, the overall inventory was 39 days, compared to 43 days in first half of the previous month

Drug inventory in the market shrank in the first two weeks of May, indicating that sales had picked up after a dull and lockdown-hit April.

At an industry level, the inventory (which is calculated in terms of number of days of stock lying with trade) reduced marginally, but some therapy areas have seen a sharp fall. Industry insiders say this is the result of pent up demand in these therapy areas like gynaecology, oncology, ophthalmology, vitamins, and vaccines.

Data from the market research firm AIOCD AWACS shows that till May 15 the overall inventory in the Indian pharma market (IPM)