UK supermarket Sainsbury's is testing a new vending system for medical prescriptions, the first of its kind in British retail. Using the vending machines, which are being piloted at Sainsbury's stores in Haywards Heath and West Green in Sussex, customers can fill in a unique ID and pin combination to pick up pre-arranged medicine packs.
The machines, which can house up to 450 medicine packs, have been developed by US firm Asteres. A qualified pharmacist is required to place the prescriptions in the machine for each individual, as well as information on how the medication should be taken. Pharmacists will also be available in-store to assist and/or provide guidance on how to use the machines.
A Sainsbury's spokesperson said that the machines represented a "secure and convenient way for customer to obtain medicine at a time that suits them. We will evaluate feedback from customers and our in-store pharmacists before taking a decision on whether to roll them out to more stores." (30 July)
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