UAE – Emirates Health Services (EHS) has taken a major step towards modernizing pharmaceutical services by launching four new robotic pharmacies.
These cutting-edge facilities have been set up at Al Qassimi Hospital, Al Qassimi Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, and Abdullah Bin Omran Hospital for Obstetrics & Gynecology.
This initiative is part of EHS’s broader strategy to automate healthcare services, enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and convenience of pharmaceutical care.
In tandem with the robotic pharmacies, EHS has introduced the region’s first smart drug self-dispensing system.
This innovative system allows patients to order and receive medications through self-exchange outlets, accessible via smart electronic applications, thus streamlining the medication collection process and reducing wait times.
Impact of robotic pharmacies on healthcare efficiency
Robotic pharmacies are reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape by significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
The use of AI and robotics in these pharmacies reduces the time required to dispense prescriptions, allowing for more streamlined workflows.
Dr. Abdullah Ahmed Al-Naqbi, Executive Director of the Supportive Health Services Sector at EHS, praised the success of the project, noting its role in improving pharmacy operations and empowering pharmacists to focus on patient consultations.
This automation enables medication preparation and dispensing in under a minute, and robots can store up to 45,000 medicine boxes.
Moreover, the robots utilize barcoding systems to ensure that patients receive the correct medications, reducing the potential for medical errors.
How AI and robotics improve patient safety and satisfaction
Dr. Moza Al-Saadi, Head of Operations and Development at the Pharmacy Department, highlighted the safety features of robotic pharmacies.
Equipped with smart alert mechanisms, these systems monitor storage conditions like temperature and humidity, ensuring that medications are stored correctly.
By automating dispensing and integrating with AI, these systems ensure accurate prescription handling without human intervention, thereby reducing errors.
Patients also benefit from the smart drug self-dispensing system, which offers a seamless, convenient way to access medications.
This system is designed to enhance customer satisfaction by reducing wait times and empowering patients to manage their prescriptions more easily.
EHS’s vision for future healthcare automation
Emirates Health Services (EHS) is not only advancing pharmaceutical care through robotics and automation but also leading the way with transformative healthcare technologies, including its Metaverse-based Virtual Telemedicine Solution.
This innovative initiative leverages 3D virtual reality technology to offer advanced telemedicine services, a first-of-its-kind in the healthcare sector.
Through this project, EHS aims to extend its reach by delivering virtual medical consultations, enabling patients to access e-services through smart devices and ensuring a seamless, user-friendly experience.
EHS’s forward-thinking projects align with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071, aimed at integrating Fourth Industrial Revolution tools like AI, IoT, and Blockchain to deliver preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic services.
These initiatives promote global ethical standards, strengthen governance, and enhance the competitiveness of the UAE’s healthcare sector at a global level.
The Metaverse project also focuses on providing virtual rehabilitation services for conditions such as autism, ADHD, and physiotherapy.
Through pre-trained AI models, physicians can monitor patient progress and fine-tune treatment plans, ultimately delivering better clinical outcomes.
