Setup Pharmacy Management

Updated 5 May 2026

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A beginner-friendly checklist to install the module and configure the minimum master data so menus work and users can start dispensing.

Overview

This chapter is a “start-to-finish” setup. If you are new to Odoo, follow the steps in order. Each step uses simple menu paths so you always know where to click.

Recommended approach: Set up configuration and master data first (Hospitals, Pharmacies, Users, Settings). Only then start creating prescriptions and dispensing.

Before You Start (Quick Checks)

  • Odoo version: confirm your addon matches your Odoo version.
  • Admin access: you need an admin user to install Apps and change access rights.
  • Addons folder: know where your Odoo addons / custom_addons folder is located.

Install the Pharmacy Management Addon

This section covers the complete beginner steps to install (or update) the Pharmacy Management addon and make sure the menus appear for users.

Where you will click in Odoo:

  • Developer Mode: Settings → (scroll down) → Activate the developer mode (wording may vary).
  • Update Apps List: Apps → Update Apps List (usually visible only in Developer Mode).
  • Install the addon: Apps → search module name → Install.
  • User permissions: Settings → Users & Companies → Users → open user → set Access Rights / roles → Save.
Download the latest copy of the addon.

Make sure it matches your Odoo version (for example, Odoo 16 addon should be used on Odoo 16). If it is a zip file, extract it so you have a normal module folder like pharmacy_management.

Upload / copy the addon folder into Odoo addons or custom_addons.

Place the module inside one of your addons directories:

  • Odoo default addons folder, or
  • Custom addons folder (recommended) like custom_addons

Important: the folder you copy must directly contain __manifest__.py. If it is nested one level deeper, Odoo will not detect it.

Restart Odoo service.

Restarting is required so Odoo loads the new addon files from disk.

Activate Developer (Development) Mode.

In Odoo, go to Settings and activate Developer Mode. This unlocks the technical options needed for app list updates.

Quick method: in many Odoo versions, you can add ?debug=1 to your Odoo URL and reload.

Update the Apps list.

Go to Apps and click Update Apps List so Odoo scans your addons folders again.

Search the addon in Apps and activate it (Install).

In Apps, search by module name and click Install. After installation, you will see new menus under Pharmacy (or a related main menu).

Demo data (optional).

If the addon contains demo data, it will be loaded only when your database was created with demo data enabled. Otherwise, you will start with empty screens and must create your own records.

Give permission to users (Access Rights).

After installing, go to Settings → Users & Companies → Users, open the user, and enable the required access rights / roles for the Pharmacy module.

Refresh Odoo and confirm the menu.

Refresh the browser (or log out and log in again). Then check you can see the Pharmacy features/menus and open them without access errors.

User Roles & Access (So Menus Appear)

  • Go to Settings → Users & Companies → Users.
  • Open the user and assign the correct Pharmacy role (User/Manager).
  • Set Default Hospital and add Hospitals Access.
  • Save and refresh (or log out/in) to apply the permissions.

More details: User Roles & Access.

Quick Test (Confirm Everything Works)

  • Open Pharmacy menu and confirm configuration menus are visible.
  • Create a test patient and a test doctor (if not already).
  • Create a test prescription and make sure you can approve/dispense (based on your role).
  • Check stock location/warehouse selection is correct for the branch.

Set Pharmacy Settings & Localization

  • Go to Pharmacy → Configuration → Pharmacy Settings → New.
  • Set Localization, Tax Included, and substitution rules.
  • Save, then confirm the settings apply to your workflow.

More details: Pharmacy Settings & Localization.

Create Master Data (Minimum Required)

Minimum to start working: Hospitals + Pharmacies + Users Access + Drug Catalog.

  • Drug Categories and Drugs: create categories first, then drug products.
  • Doctors / Prescribers: mark prescribers and store license numbers if needed.
  • Patients: create patient contacts so prescriptions can be issued correctly.

Open chapters:

Configure Hospitals and Pharmacy Branches

  • Create Hospitals: Pharmacy → Configuration → Hospitals → New.
  • Create Pharmacies (branches): Pharmacy → Configuration → Pharmacies → New.
  • Select the correct Warehouse and confirm Location is filled.

Tip: If you have multiple branches, use one warehouse per branch for clean stock separation.

More details: Set up Hospitals & Pharmacies.

Common Beginner Issues

  • Module installed but menus missing: user does not have access rights, or multi-company access is not correct.
  • App not found in Apps list: addons folder not in addons_path, Odoo not restarted, or Apps list not updated.
  • Cannot dispense: warehouse/location not set on the pharmacy branch, or user role does not allow the action.