Tabuk, August 30, 2023, The King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in the Northwestern region, which is the representative of the General Directorate for Health Services at the Ministry of Defense (MODHS), has reached a critical milestone that strengthens Saudi Arabia's enviable record of technological advancements. In order to revolutionize the way medications are administered without necessitating hospital visits, the hospital built the first automated medication distribution equipment in the world. The device is the first of its kind in the entire globe, claims Olayan Alatawy, director of the hospital's pharmacy department. A workstation that processes the prescription barcode, a screen for beneficiary interaction, a specific operating system, and a messaging platform make up the machine. The messaging platform alerts beneficiaries as the drug is being prepared for delivery. The machine can fill prescriptions for various drugs and has a storage capacity of between 102 and 700 medical prescriptions. It also offers extremely high protection against theft, tampering, and damage. Additionally, it gives the beneficiaries daily, monthly, or annual statistical information on the prescriptions that were dispensed. Alatawy described how beneficiaries make requests to have their prescriptions filled by scanning the barcode linked to the prescription, which is how beneficiaries acquire the medication through the machine. After entering the necessary data, the user chooses the vending machine that is closest to their location, according to Alataway. A pharmacist then uses an electronic system to confirm the prescription data for the beneficiary. A text message containing a number, the location of the device, and the status of the request is delivered to the beneficiary as soon as the prescription request is approved. After entering the necessary information and the verification number that was provided to their phone, beneficiaries can obtain their prescription from the machine within 48 hours, continued Alatawy.
