Digital transformation has reconfigured, on a global scale, the operational and strategic foundations of the pharmaceutical sector. In Brazil, this movement follows the global trend but carries specificities that require profound adaptations. The digitization of the national pharmaceutical supply chain requires not only applied technology but also a redesign of processes, public policies, and historically established 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 towards a more integrated, responsive, and territorially inclusive healthcare system. However, the process requires coordination among different links in the chain, from the industry to the point of sale, including technology providers, startups, independent networks, and the State itself as a regulator and promoter of innovation.
According to the report of theResearch and Markets(2021), the expectation is that the global pharmaceutical market will reach US$ 957.59 billion by 2028, nearly double the amount recorded in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.34%. This data reveals a rapidly expanding sector driven by factors such as aging population, increased prevalence of chronic diseases, and greater access to healthcare services.
The emergence of healthtechs in the innovation ecosystem has also been a significant driver of this transformation. According to data from the Distrito platform, Brazil recorded $27.3 million in investments in startups in the sector just in 2020, indicating market appetite and capital for technology initiatives focused on health. However, this innovation still needs to break through cultural and operational barriers that fragment the sector.
Among the main bottlenecks in pharmaceutical digitization 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 operating model with low system integration. Digitizing this environment is not just about connecting pharmacies to an app or e-commerce, but about building a technical and regulatory infrastructure that supports continuous, interoperable, and auditable information flows.
In this scenario, pharmaceutical digital ecosystems are beginning to establish themselves as viable alternatives to structure a more cohesive supply chain. A relevant example is Digital Pharmacies (GrupoSC ecosystem), which connects over 4,000 pharmacies in a network that not only conducts transactions but also operates based on data intelligence. The integration between inventory control, regulatory compliance systems, and last mile logistics allows for reducing supply disruptions, increasing demand predictability, and ensuring traceability — an essential element for health safety and fraud prevention.
One of the main advantages of these ecosystems is their ability to connect pharmacies, often isolated from a technological and logistical standpoint, to the digital environment of the sector. This movement contributes to democratizing access to health solutions, mitigating regional inequalities, and strengthening the role of pharmacies as essential units in primary care. Technology, in this context, becomes a mechanism for productive inclusion, reorganizing logistical flows and redistributing operational intelligence along the supply chain.
The integration among sector agents — such as distributors, pharmaceutical industries, healthtechs, universities, and regulatory agencies — will be decisive for the consolidation of a digital health model that encompasses the complexity of the 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 is contemporary with the demands of a connected society.
