Resolving an undercount (counted less than expected)

When the physical count is lower than expected, here are the usual causes and fixes.

An undercount means you have less on the shelf than expected — an outflow that wasn’t recorded, or a genuine loss to investigate and possibly report. Common causes:

Destruction not recorded

The most common cause: expired or returned stock removed from inventory but never logged. Add it under Destructions → record the destruction.

Brand switching

A drug dispensed under a different (interchangeable) DIN shows one brand under and the other over by the same amount. Reconcile the pair.

Blister packs

Quantities committed to compliance/blister packaging may be on the shelf in a different form than the records expect — verify before treating it as a loss.

Dispensed on the day of the previous count

A dispense on the prior count date can fall outside the window. Confirm the date.

If none of these explain it

Treat the shortfall as a potential loss/theft: use AI triage on the count, then the 1-click Health Canada loss report — which generates a draft Loss/Theft Report for you to review. You (the QPIC) remain responsible for verifying it and submitting within 10 days of confirming a loss.