What are quota-managed products in pharmaceutical wholesale?

Quota-managed products are medicines for which pharmaceutical manufacturers deliberately limit the quantities they allocate to each wholesaler over a given period, typically on a monthly basis. These quotas are usually introduced in response to global supply constraints, such as shortages of raw materials, limited manufacturing capacity or strategic allocation decisions. For wholesalers, this means inventory can no longer be replenished purely according to demand. Instead, planners must distribute a fixed allocation across multiple distribution centres and pharmacy customers while continuing to meet Public Service Obligations. In many pharmaceutical distribution networks, managing quota-controlled products accounts for more than half of total wholesale activity, yet the process remains largely manual.