TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Taiwan University Hospital has installed its first fully automated pill dispensing machine at its Wanhua branch in Taipei, a move that aims to significantly ease workloads and improve service.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare requires one pharmacy staff member for every 100 prescriptions filled. However, the rapid rise of a super-aged society and growing demand for chronic disease care have made it challenging to meet this standard, per CNA.
To address this, Chan Ding-cheng (詹鼎正), director of the branch hospital, said the hospital invested NT$9 million (US$291,000) in the machine, which is projected to cut medication processing and patient waiting times by up to 30% and enhance medication safety.
Pharmacist Peng Ssu-wei (彭思瑋) explained that once a pharmacist completes the prescription preparation, the machine automatically retrieves the medication and delivers it to the dispensing window, leaving the pharmacist only to verify and provide instructions.
The machine holds more than 60 types of boxed medications, accounting for about 40% of all boxed drugs used in the hospital. Peng said it reduces dispensing errors by 95% and reaches 99.5% accuracy, with tablets and other forms also to be automatically dispensed.
Similar machines have been used at National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Taichung Veterans General Hospital. NTU Hospital’s main campus is also installing one. Chan said the system can cut paper and labeling use by 20% and save 15% in energy. Additionally, tracking features allow the hospital to monitor medication usage.
Since last year, hospitals and pharmacies in Taiwan have faced a growing pharmacist shortage, driven by long hours, irregular shifts, and the country’s more than 15,000 pharmacies. Chan added the hospital plans to boost salaries and benefits, offer more flexible scheduling, and reduce administrative tasks to attract more pharmacists.
