Abstract:

The study examined the effect of internal factors on financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies in Zimbabwe. The research objectives set to guide the study were to ascertain internal factors influencing the financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies; establish operating mechanisms that are deployed to improve financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies; identify adverse effects resulting from the poor financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies and proffer recommendations on how pharmaceutical wholesale companies in Zimbabwe can improve financial performance. The study adopted a quantitative research design and employed convenient sampling to gather data from 103 pharmaceutical companies in Zimbabwe. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results from the study were presented using tables and figures. Results from the study show that information technology systems and marketing systems may influence financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies, while organizational culture, financial mechanisms and distribution systems may not influence financial performance. Adverse effects of poor financial performance identified in the study include economic loss, bad operational decisions, poor staff retention and bankruptcy. Key recommendations from the study include the need to leverage information technology (IT) systems and marketing systems to improve the financial performance of pharmaceutical wholesale companies in Zimbabwe. While the study did not find significant influences of organizational culture, financial mechanisms and distribution systems on financial performance, it is essential for companies to continuously assess and adapt these internal factors to align with organizational goals and market dynamics.

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