---
title: "Item Management"
description: "How to manage billable items in NICE HMS — medicines, consumables, services, and their pricing, tax configuration, and account linking."
date: 2026-07-19
lastModified: 2026-07-19
category: "billing"
author: "Dr. Umesh Bilagi"
beta: true
---

## Overview

Item Management is where you define everything that can be billed: consultation services, procedures, medicines, lab tests, room charges, consumables, and miscellaneous items. Items are linked to accounts in the Accounts Master for proper financial tracking.

## Adding an Item

1. Go to **Admin > Item Management**.
2. Click **New Item**.
3. Fill in:

| Field | Description |
|-------|------------|
| **Item Name** | e.g., "Paracetamol 500mg Tablet", "CBC Test", "General OPD Consultation" |
| **Category** | Medicine, Service, Lab Test, Radiology, Procedure, Consumable, Room, Miscellaneous |
| **Unit** | Tablet, Vial, Test, Session, Day, Piece |
| **Rate** | Selling price per unit |
| **Cost Price** | Purchase cost (for pharmacy items) |
| **Tax Type** | IGST, CGST+SGST, CST, or Nil |
| **Tax %** | 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%, or custom |
| **Account** | Link to the corresponding income account from Accounts Master |
| **Reorder Level** | For inventory items — minimum stock before alert |
| **Is Active** | Yes/No |

## Item Categories

| Category | Examples | Tracks Inventory? |
|----------|---------|-------------------|
| **Medicine** | Tablets, capsules, syrups, injections | Yes |
| **Service** | OPD consultation, nursing charge, procedure | No |
| **Lab Test** | CBC, LFT, lipid profile, HbA1c | No |
| **Radiology** | X-ray, USG, CT, MRI | No |
| **Procedure** | Dressing, suturing, catheterization | No |
| **Consumable** | Gloves, syringes, bandages, cotton | Yes |
| **Room** | General ward, private, ICU (per day) | No |
| **Miscellaneous** | Any other charge | No |

## Inventory Items

For items that track inventory (medicines, consumables):
- Stock is updated automatically when items are dispensed from pharmacy.
- Stock alerts when below reorder level.
- Expiry tracking for medicines.
- Purchase orders for restocking. See [Pharmacy Workflow](/docs/pharmacy-workflow).

## Bulk Import

For initial setup or adding many items at once:
1. Prepare a CSV with the required columns.
2. Contact support for bulk import — this is typically done during implementation.

## Linking to Accounts

Every item must be linked to an account in the Accounts Master. This ensures:
- Revenue is categorized correctly in financial reports.
- Tax is applied based on the item's configuration.
- The chart of accounts reflects the actual business structure.

## FAQ

**Q: Can I change an item's price without affecting past bills?**
A: Yes. Changing the price updates future bills only. Past bills retain the price at the time of billing.

**Q: Can I deactivate an item instead of deleting it?**
A: Yes. Set "Is Active" to No. It won't appear in dropdowns but stays in historical records.