Funding required to support ‘scaling’ of robotics in pharmacy

Pharmacies – regardless of size or location – must be supported with the right investment and infrastructure to support government plans to expand the use of robotics in pharmacy, industry leaders have urged.

The recently published NHS 10-year plan for England involves proposals to scale up robotics in pharmacy, ‘where they can fill prescriptions far more quickly and accurately than humans’.

The blueprint pledges to ‘modernise our approach to dispensing of medicines and make better use of the technology available’, including through the use of dispensing robots and hub and spoke models.

The move comes as new legislation will, from October, enable pharmacies across separate legal entities to take advantage of hub and spoke dispensing, pending parliamentary approval.

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NHS England modelling has previously suggested that hub and spoke dispensing will increase 2% each year, freeing up workforce capacity to deliver more clinical services.

While pharmacy leaders, including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and National Pharmacy Association (NPA), have welcomed the government’s focus on robotics and technology, they also stressed the need for appropriate workforce training and sector funding.

Tase Oputu, RPS England Board chair said: ‘Digital technologies, such as robotics, can improve the efficiency and accuracy of medicines supply, ultimately benefiting patient care.

‘We have seen the benefits of robotics across hospital pharmacy dispensaries for many years, and in line with our vision for pharmacy across GB, we see the potential for robotics to support pharmacists in delivering more patient-focused services.

‘By automating dispensing and distribution of medicines, pharmacists can dedicate more time to clinical roles, improving patient outcomes.’

Though she added: ‘To ensure successful adoption, the workforce must be supported with the right education and training, and all pharmacies – regardless of size or location – must have the infrastructure and investment needed to benefit from these advancements.’

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Meanwhile, Gareth Jones, director of corporate affairs at the NPA said: ‘We know that a number of pharmacies have either already introduced or are considering introducing more automation, including robotics.

‘This is often to free up staff time so they can deliver more clinical services to patients.’

Mr Jones stressed that pharmacies needed ‘a level funding that makes it possible to make investments in these sort of innovations, in line with other parts of the NHS’.

Leading pharmacists have previously proposed using robotics to ease the risk of overwork and burnout in pharmacies, as well as to improve safety.

But concerns have been raised that some organisations lack the funding to invest in the technology.

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The scaling up in community pharmacy goes alongside plans to boost the use of robotics in surgery, data entry, inventory control, referral management, according to the NHS 10-year plan.

In a speech announcing the plan last week, the Prime Minister argued that increased automation will unlock human potential: ‘AI and technology make us more human, because what it gives all of you and all of your colleagues is more time to care, more time to do the things that only human beings can do.’