Emirates Health Services (EHS) has launched four robotic pharmacies in an effort to expand the automation of pharmaceutical service delivery. The project was implemented in Al Qassimi Hospital; Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital; and Abdullah Bin Omran Hospital for Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The Foundation also announced the launch of the first-of-its-kind self-dispensing system in the region linked to robots, which enables references through smart electronic applications to order and obtain medicines directly through smart self-exchange outlets, to facilitate and develop the customer’s journey and gain the satisfaction and confidence of the beneficiaries of pharmaceutical services in Enterprise.
Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Al-Naqbi, Executive Director of the Supportive Health Services Sector at EHS, explained that the robotic pharmacies project has achieved outstanding success and is one of most important health transformation efforts that has played an effective part in enhancing pharmacy performance and empowering pharmacists by providing consultations.
“Automation of healthcare services is an important step towards developing overall health service provision,” Dr. Al-Naqbi added. “Our strategy at Emirates Health Services is to develop integrated and holistic treatment services, all while adopting the best, most advanced medical practices and Fourth-Industrial-Revolution Technology. EHS is committed to diversifying service delivery channels in order to ensure the continuity and sustainability of pharmaceutical services. For example, the home delivery service at hospitals and primary care centres has been available since March 2020. Not to mention virtual consultations and pharmacy services, which have helped ensure customer happiness.”
EHS has sought to expand the scope of robotic pharmacy project, out of commitment to implementing international best practice to provide patients with optimal healthcare. Dr. Moza Al-Saadi, Head of Operations and Development at the Pharmacy Department, indicated that robots enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reducing the waiting time for patients to receive service. Furthermore, robots play an effective role in managing drug inventory and using barcodes to ensure drug safety and minimise medical errors.
The robotic pharmacy includes a built-in, round-the-clock smart alert mechanism to measure temperatures and humidity and ensure the quality of medicines. It also operates modern and advanced software to prepare reports and carry out inventory operations in seconds, Dr. Al-Saadi added.
“The robotic pharmacy operates in an integrated manner and without human intervention, where robots use artificial intelligence technology to locate and identify medicines,” she continued. “The robot is also boasts high-level capabilities and advanced technologies to prepare and dispense the prescription automatically in less than a minute. It can also handle a storage capacity of more than 45,000 medicine boxes in one location for some pharmacies.”