If you want to open a pharmacy, medical shop or pharmaceutical wholesale business in Karnataka, you need a drug license from the Karnataka Drugs Control Department. This guide explains the entire process in simple terms.
Types of Drug Licenses
The license you need depends on your business model:
- Retail Drug License (Form 20 & 21) — for pharmacies and medical shops selling directly to customers
- Wholesale Drug License (Form 20B & 21B) — for distributors and stockists selling to other businesses
- Restricted License (Form 20A & 21A) — for general stores selling a limited range of medicines
- Manufacturing License — for producing medicines (separate, more complex process)
Key Requirements
Before applying, make sure you have:
- A qualified person — a Registered Pharmacist for retail, or a competent person (graduate with 1 year experience, or SSLC with 4 years experience in drugs) for wholesale
- Suitable premises — minimum 10 square metres for retail or wholesale (15 sq. m. if combined), with proper storage
- A refrigerator — mandatory for storing temperature-sensitive medicines
- Business registration proof — proprietorship, partnership or company documents
Documents Required
Typical document checklist for a Karnataka drug license application:
- PAN card and Aadhaar card of the applicant
- Passport-size photographs
- Premises ownership document or rent agreement
- Site plan and blueprint of the premises
- Registered pharmacist / competent person qualification certificates and registration
- Appointment letter of the pharmacist / competent person
- Refrigerator purchase invoice
- Application form with cover letter
Process and Timeline
The application is filed online with the Karnataka Drugs Control Department, followed by a premises inspection by the Drugs Inspector. If everything is in order, the license is typically issued within 30–60 days.
Common reasons for delay or rejection include incomplete documents, premises not meeting size norms, and pharmacist registration issues — most of which are avoidable with proper preparation.
How Dattriox Helps
We handle the complete drug license process — document preparation, online application, follow-up with the department and inspection support. You can track every stage live on our client app. Contact us at info@dattriox.com to get started.
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