Hamad General Hospital’s automated pharmacy cuts waiting time for patients by half

Hamad General Hospital’s state-of-the-art automated dispensing unit – known as the pharmacy robot - has reduced the amount of time patients spend in the Outpatient Department’s Pharmacy by half.

Currently dispensing 1,600 packets of tablets a day, the MACH4 Omnicell system, which was inaugurated in April, is two robots combined - the Medimat and the Speedbox. Working together, the system manages the dispensary of both complex prescriptions as well as fast moving items that are in high demand. The total stock capacity of the system is 14,000 packets.

“This means not only a shorter waiting time for patients, but means our highly trained pharmacists can spend more time with each patient, ensuring they have all the information they need,” said Dr. Mona Al Bakri, Assistant Director of the Pharmacy Department at Hamad General Hospital.

Dr. Al Bakri said the Pharmacy Department is working to integrate the pharmacy robot with the Clinical Information System (CIS), which was implemented across HMC’s network of hospitals and services this year. CIS implementation at HMC saw all patient records transferred to a state-of-the art electronic system, helping clinicians improve continuity of care and provide more proactive care.

“This has had an even greater impact on our patients as all systems are integrated, ensuring a smoother and faster experience. When fully integrated, patients will only have to show their health card to the pharmacy team to collect their medications.”

Dr. Noora Malallah, Supervisor of the Outpatient Department Pharmacy added that pharmacists find the system not only more convenient, but it also enables them to spend more time with each patient.

“The time our patients spend inside the pharmacy can be spent on education and counselling,” she said. “Our pharmacy team can fully explain the medications to patients and answer any questions they may have.”

Hamad General Hospital has the second automated pharmacy system installed at a HMC hospital, with a similar one operating at Al Wakra Hospital.

The system at Hamad General has the capacity to not only dispense medications in a more timely manner, but it can carry three days’ supply of medications, reducing the need for "downtime" to restock. It also has a special section for "fast moving medications" for conditions like diabetes and blood pressure which can be dispensed quickly.