1. Pharmaceutical Market deals with the supply and availability of medicinal products used for diagnosis, prevention or treatment of specific medical conditions (diseases)
FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) deals with the supply or availability of consumer products of the routine use.
2. Pharmaceutical Market is highly regulated market. Manufacturing, supply or use of pharmaceutical products are regulated by laws in order to ensure specified quality and standards of such products (example : DGDA, USFDA, UKMHRA, TGA) FMCG market is less regulated market.
There are limited regulations apply in manufacturing, supply or use of FMCG products (example : BSTI)
3. Pharmaceutical products are available on the retail drug stores and must be sold by qualified registered pharmacists with the prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner (Doctors) FMCG are available on every general stores and can be sold and purchased by any consumer without any interference of any authority or law
The concept of CONSUMER and CUSTOMER is different based on prescription or OTC products.
In case of prescription drugs, the doctor is actual customer and patient is consumer.
In case of OTC drugs, the patient is both customer and consumer as no prescription is required to purchase OTC drugs. In case of FMCG, the buyer has freedom to purchase and consume the product. There is no difference between customer and consumer
4. Price of pharmaceutical products are regulated by the Government (DGDA)
There is no regulation
5. Advertisement of Pharmaceutical products is regulated by regulatory authority.
There are some flexibility that exists for OTC drugs Very limited regulation
