# Pharmacy and Channelling Discount Rules

## Introduction

Pharmacy and channelling have their own distinct discount configurations separate from general OPD discounts. **Pharmacy discount rules** govern automatic reductions applied at the pharmacy counter, while **channelling discount rules** apply to appointment fees and channel session billing. Both integrate with the payment scheme system to apply context-appropriate discounts.

## Navigation

### Pharmacy Discounts
Main Menu → Administration → **Pharmacy Configuration** → Discount Rules
OR
Main Menu → Pharmacy → **Discount Settings**

### Channelling Discounts
Main Menu → Administration → **Channelling Configuration** → Discount Rules
OR
Main Menu → Channel → **Discount Settings**

## Pharmacy Discount Rules

### How Pharmacy Discounts Work

Pharmacy discounts are applied on drug sales based on:

- **Membership** — patient has an active membership that includes pharmacy discounts
- **Staff** — staff members receive a configured % discount on pharmacy purchases
- **Payment Scheme** — specific scheme triggers a pharmacy discount
- **Item Category** — discounts on specific drug categories or brands

### Configuring Pharmacy Discounts

1. Open Pharmacy → Discount Configuration.
2. Click **New Rule**.
3. Set:
   - **Discount type** (Staff, Member, Scheme-based)
   - **Percentage** or fixed amount
   - **Item scope** — All items, or specific categories
   - **Maximum discount** cap
4. Save.

### Pharmacy Discount at POS

When a pharmacist creates a sale:

1. Patient's scheme or membership is identified.
2. Eligible discount rules are evaluated.
3. Discount is applied per item or on the total.
4. The cashier can see the applied discount; override requires privilege.

## Channelling Discount Rules

### How Channelling Discounts Work

Channelling discounts apply to appointment booking fees and session consultation fees:

- **Membership Discount** — members get a reduced channel fee
- **Staff Discount** — staff members channel at a reduced rate
- **Online Booking Discount** — appointments booked online may carry a reduced fee
- **Agent Discount** — fees for agent-collected bookings

### Configuring Channelling Discounts

1. Open Channel → Discount Configuration.
2. Click **New Rule**.
3. Set:
   - **Discount type** (Member, Staff, Agent, Online)
   - **Applies to** — session fee, booking fee, or both
   - **Percentage or fixed amount**
4. Save.

### Channel Session Billing and Discounts

When the channel cashier collects payment:

1. The patient's membership or staff status is checked.
2. Applicable discount rules are evaluated.
3. The discount appears on the channel receipt.

## Combined Discount Stacking

Where both a scheme discount and a membership discount apply, the system follows the configured stacking rule:

- **Highest discount wins** (default) — only the largest applicable discount is applied
- **All discounts stacked** — discounts are combined (if configured)
- Contact your administrator to check the stacking behaviour at your facility.

## Technical Reference

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy discount entity | `DiscountScheme` (pharmacy context) |
| Channelling discount | Configured per session/appointment type |
| Membership integration | `MembershipController` → discount lookup |
| Related | [OPD Discount Rules](Finance-OPD-Discount-Rules.md), [Membership Scheme Payment Methods](Finance-Membership-Scheme-Payment-Methods.md) |