The digital transformation has reconfigured, on a global scale, the operational and strategic foundations of the pharmaceutical sector. In Brazil, this movement follows the world trend, but carries specificities that require profound adaptations. The digitization of the national pharmaceutical chain demands not only applied technology, but also a redesign of historically consolidated processes, public policies and business models.
The advancement of digitization, with the adoption of technological platforms in the operations of pharmacies, distribution and logistics, represents more than a leap in efficiency: it is a structural transition towards a more integrated, responsive and territorially inclusive health system. However, the process requires coordination between 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 inducer of innovation.
second report of research and markets (2021), the expectation is that the global pharmaceutical market will reach US$ 957.59 billion by 2028, almost double the amount recorded in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.34%. This data reveals a sector in full expansion, driven by factors such as population aging, an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases and greater access of the population to health services.
The emergence of healthtechs in the innovation ecosystem has also been a relevant vector of this transformation. According to data from the District platform, Brazil recorded US$ 27.3 million in investments in sector startups alone in 2020, indicating that there is market appetite and capital for technological initiatives focused on health. However, this innovation still needs to break down cultural and operational barriers that fragment the sector.
Among the main bottlenecks of 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 and low-system integration model. Digitizing this environment is not just connecting pharmacies to an application or e-commerce, but building a technical and regulatory infrastructure that supports continuous, interoperable and auditable information flows.
In this scenario, pharmaceutical digital ecosystems begin to consolidate as viable alternatives to structure a more cohesive chain. A relevant example is the Digital Pharmacies (GruposC Ecosystem), which connects more than 4,000 pharmacies in a network that not only performs transactions, but operates based on data intelligence. The integration between inventory control, regulatory compliance systems and “last mile” logistics makes it possible to reduce supply breakages, increase demand predictability and ensure traceability — an essential element for health safety and the fight against fraud.
One of the great differentials of these ecosystems is the ability to connect pharmacies, often isolated from a technological and logistical point of view, 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 productive inclusion mechanism, reorganizing logistical flows and redistributing operational intelligence along the chain.
The integration between agents in the sector — such as distributors, pharmaceutical industries, healthtechs, universities and regulatory bodies — will be decisive for the consolidation of a digital health model that includes the complexity of the Brazilian territory.
More than a trend, digital transformation in the pharmaceutical sector represents a strategic need to ensure competitiveness, expand access to medicines and consolidate a health care model that is contemporary with the demands of connected society.
