Digital transformation has been reshaping, on a global scale, the operational and strategic foundations of the pharmaceutical sector. In Brazil, this movement follows the worldwide trend but carries specificities that require profound adaptations. Digitizing the national pharmaceutical chain demands not only applied technology but also a redesign of historically established processes, public policies, and business models.
The advancement of digitalization, with the adoption of technological platforms in pharmacy operations, distribution, and logistics, represents more than a leap in efficiency: it is a structural transition toward a more integrated, responsive, and territorially inclusive healthcare system. However, the process requires coordination among different links in the chain, from industry to the point of sale, including technology providers, startups, independent networks, and the government itself as a regulator and inducer of innovation.
According to a report by Research and Markets (2021), the global pharmaceutical market is expected to reach $957.59 billion by 2028, nearly double the 2020 figures, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.34%. This indicates a rapidly expanding sector driven by factors such as an aging population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and increased access to healthcare services.
The emergence of healthtechs in the innovation ecosystem has also been a relevant driver of this transformation. According to data from Distrito, Brazil recorded $27.3 million in investments in sector startups in 2020 alone, indicating market appetite and capital for technology-driven health initiatives. However, this innovation still needs to overcome cultural and operational barriers fragmenting the sector.
Among the main bottlenecks in pharmaceutical digitalization are inventory management, demand planning, and the ability to generate actionable data in real time. Many of these challenges stem from a historically analog, decentralized operational model with low system integration. Digitizing this environment is not just about connecting pharmacies to an app or e-commerce but building a technical and regulatory infrastructure that supports continuous, interoperable, and auditable information flows.
In this scenario, pharmaceutical digital ecosystems are beginning to solidify as viable alternatives for structuring a more cohesive chain. A relevant example is Farmácias Digitais (an ecosystem under GrupoSC), which connects over 4,000 pharmacies in a network that not only facilitates transactions but operates based on data intelligence. Integration between inventory control, regulatory compliance systems, and ‘last-mile’ logistics helps reduce supply shortages, improve demand predictability, and ensure traceability—a critical element for healthcare safety and fraud prevention.
A key advantage of these ecosystems lies in their ability to connect pharmacies, which are often technologically and logistically isolated, to the sector’s digital environment. This movement helps democratize access to health solutions, mitigate regional disparities, and strengthen pharmacies as essential units in primary care. In this context, technology becomes a mechanism for productive inclusion, reorganizing logistical flows and redistributing operational intelligence across the chain.
The integration between sector stakeholders—such as distributors, pharmaceutical companies, healthtechs, universities, and regulators—will be decisive in consolidating a digital health model that accounts for the complexity of Brazilian territory.
More than a trend, digital transformation in the pharmaceutical sector represents a strategic necessity to ensure competitiveness, expand access to medicines, and establish a healthcare model that meets the demands of a connected society.
