Blog - 2010 July 29

Prescription Medication Vending Machines Come to the UK

A first for the UK – Sainsbury’s have begun trials of prescription medication vending machines in two Sussex branches of the superstore.

Upon registering with the vending machine, customers are given a unique ID and PIN number to be later used to collect prescriptions. Before stocking machines with the required medication, a trained pharmacist manually ensures the validity of prescriptions as a preventative measure against potential abuse; the medication is then placed in to the kiosk along with any applicable usage instructions.

To collect prescriptions, customers simply sign in to the vending machine using their ID and PIN code. A list of their prescriptions is then provided on screen, along with any relevant payment information; medicines are then dispensed through the collection point.

The automated kiosk is not intended to replace the existing pharmacy service. Both services will run side-by-side so customers are still able to ask advice from qualified pharmacists if desired. The idea is the vending machines will provide an extra level of convenience and flexibility for the consumer – allowing prescriptions to be collected quickly and at a time that better suits their schedules. It is even possible for a family to group prescriptions together, so they can all be collected at the same time.

The vending machines themselves have a storage capacity of up to 450 packs of medicines and each pack is uniquely identifiable by the kiosk, thanks to a barcode system.

Sainsbury’s currently has a total of 236 in-store pharmacies. If the trials of the prescription vending machines are successful and well received by customers, they are likely to be featured in more stores over the country in the future.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: medication, prescription, Vending Machine News