For current and future pharmacy owners. An initiative by Bidafarma and San Telmo Business School
Current or future pharmacy owners, staff pharmacists and management professionals
16th edition – CIUDAD REAL
March to June 2027 · Qualification recognized by Universidad Villanueva (22 credits)
Management of Community Pharmacies Program (PDGOF)
A genuine transformation from pharmacist to business manager: strategic perspective, opportunity identification and 100% practical tools. A format compatible with running your pharmacy, with learning concentrated into one day per week.
Program Profile
Who is the program for?
Three possible profiles and one shared need: to broaden the business perspective of the pharmacy and learn to lead and manage it professionally.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Four keys to leading your pharmacy
Methodology
A pioneering Case Method approach in the sector
“My experience as a San Telmo alumnus has been extremely rewarding because of the broad business perspective it opens up.” — Leandro Martínez Carrasco, Chairman of Fundación Bidafarma.
Individual preparation
Real cases. Debate, decisions and comparing perspectives within a team. A method used at Harvard and IESE.
Teamwork
Team case discussion. You test your judgment with pharmacy owners of different ages, from different pharmacies and regions.
Plenary session
General discussion, workshops and role plays led by the professor.
Application in your pharmacy
Every decision you practise contributes to your individual improvement plan, supported by a mentor from beginning to end.
Curriculum
Academic Content and Learning Modules
The mentored Individual Improvement Plan is the backbone of the program: diagnose your pharmacy, choose a priority strategic challenge, define a roadmap and receive mentoring throughout the program. It applies your learning to a real pharmacy challenge through a personalized plan developed with a tutor. The academic content covers strategy and management; financial control, finance and ratios; people management and leadership; decision-making skills; taxation, assets and family business; and operations, commercial perspective and growth.
Develop the strategic perspective, business judgment and leadership skills needed to lead your pharmacy.
- Strategy and management: analyse the environment, define priorities and lead the pharmacy with a business perspective.
- Decision-making and leadership skills: the Case Method, sound business judgment and leadership capabilities.
Understand and control the pharmacy’s finances, operations and commercial performance.
- Financial control, finance and ratios: control costs, margins and profitability; investment, financing and a management dashboard.
- Operations, commercial perspective and growth: inventory management, category profitability, commercial decisions and the customer-patient experience.
Manage the team and prepare the pharmacy’s future, including taxation, assets and family continuity.
- People management and leadership: recruit, motivate and develop the team; compensation and conflict management.
- Taxation, assets and family business: taxation for the pharmacy and owner, wealth, succession and family continuity.
Specialist faculty with business experience
Regular San Telmo faculty include academics with doctorates, executives, business owners and board advisers who combine knowledge of the pharmacy business with insights from other sectors.
Success Stories and Real Testimonials
The true measure of the program is what changed in the pharmacies of those who completed it. After fifteen previous editions, there are many stories to tell.
What makes it different?
What happens after the program
Frequently Asked Questions
Complete the form to contact the Program team directly.
Can I combine the program with running my pharmacy?
Yes. The program is designed precisely for pharmacists who run their own community pharmacy. It consists of 15 on-campus sessions, one per week, to make it compatible with your professional activity, so you can keep running your pharmacy while applying what you learn. In fact, one of the goals is for you to put real improvements in place in your pharmacy from day one, through a mentored Individual Improvement Plan.
Do I need prior knowledge of finance?
No. The program is designed for pharmacists, not finance specialists. We take a very practical approach, focused on helping you interpret your pharmacy’s numbers and make better business decisions. In addition, before the program starts you will have access to an optional online introductory course in finance and Excel, so you can approach the program with greater confidence.
How much does it cost? Is financial support available from Bidafarma?
The program fee is €3,000. Thanks to the support of Bidafarma, members of the cooperative can access a €1,000 scholarship, bringing the final cost for them to €2,000. The fee includes all documentation, faculty support and the mentored development of the Improvement Plan for your pharmacy. (Fee information is taken from the official program page.)
Is the program only for Bidafarma pharmacies?
No. The program is aimed at pharmacy owners, future owners, staff pharmacists and management professionals in community pharmacies, regardless of the cooperative they work with. Although it was designed jointly by San Telmo Business School and Bidafarma, any pharmacist who wants to develop a more business-oriented view of their pharmacy may apply for admission. Bidafarma members benefit from special financial conditions thanks to the collaboration between the two institutions.