Global central fill pharmacy automation market is estimated to witness high growth, owing to rising adoption of automation and growing need to minimize medication errors
Central fill pharmacy automation market is estimated to be valued at USD 654 Mn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.5% over the forecast period 2024-2031. Due to increasing demand for specialty medications in the healthcare sector, central fill pharmacies are becoming an integral part of medication distribution system.
Market Dynamics:
Global central fill pharmacy automation market is expected to witness significant growth, owing to rising adoption of automation technologies among central fill pharmacies to optimize workflow and address issues related to hiring skilled and reliable workforce. Automation helps in minimizing medication errors, thus, improving accuracy and efficiency of the filling process. Furthermore, growing need to reduce labor costs and improve operational capabilities boosts adoption of automated systems in central fill pharmacies. Various automated solutions including automated compounding devices, automated packaging and labeling systems and automated medication dispensing systems are increasingly being deployed to streamline central fill operations. However, high initial investments and maintenance costs associated with automated systems can hamper the market growth.
Increase in Prescription Volumes Due to Aging Population
One of the key drivers for central fill pharmacy automation market is rising prescription volumes due to aging population. As per statistics, the geriatric population (aged 65 years or older) is growing at a rapid pace worldwide. This age group generally has multiple chronic conditions and tends to take more medications on a regular basis. With increasing lifespans, the number of people suffering from chronic diseases is outpacing population growth. Central fill pharmacy automation helps streamline the dispensing process to efficiently manage the high prescription volumes from this demographic. The automated solutions facilitate faster order processing, reduce errors and allow diversion of workforce to direct patient care services.
Need for Improved Productivity and Cost Savings among Pharmacies
The need among pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers to boost productivity and optimize costs through automation can drive the market growth. Central fill pharmacies aim to dispense large volumes of prescriptions through optimized workflow and minimal staff. Automated solutions integrate with inventory and prescription management software to maximize efficiency. These offer features like automatic counting, sorting and packaging of medications. This significantly improves dispensing speed as compared to manual processes. It enables pharmacies to meet tight turnaround times for prescription orders. Central fill automation also reduces labor costs by limiting requirement of on-site pharmacists and technicians.
High Cost of Implementation and Maintenance
High upfront costs associated with central fill pharmacy automation systems can hamper the market growth. These solutions comprise complex equipment, hardware and software that integrate robotic systems for automated dispensing, inspection, sorting and packaging of medications. Their implementation requires extensive setup, configuration, testing and validation. Maintaining these systems involves recurring maintenance contracts and costs of repairs, upgrades or replacements. The high capital expenditure can pose a major challenge, especially for smaller pharmacies and retailers to adopt automation.
Lack of Trained Workforce
Lack of a trained workforce familiar with automation equipment can hamper the market growth. Central fill pharmacies require especially skilled technicians and engineers to operate complex machinery, program workflows, troubleshoot issues and ensure smooth workflow. However, there is a scarcity of personnel with technical know-how of these automated pharmacy systems. Appropriate training requires significant time and investment which deters many organizations, especially in underdeveloped regions.
Opportunity in Increasing Medication Adherence
Increasing medication adherence represents a major opportunity in the global central fill pharmacy automation market. Non-adherence to medication is a significant problem globally. According to the World Health Organisation,only 50% of patients in developed countries and lower rates in developing countries adhere to long-term therapies. Poor adherence leads to treatment failures and worse health outcomes. It also places an unnecessary financial burden on healthcare systems.Central fill pharmacies equipped with automation can help boost medication adherence through features like packaging medications in dose packs, adding adherence packs with calendar marking for each dose, inclusion of reminders and educational inserts. A study by International Pharmaceutical Federation on hypertension revealed 72% of patients who received adherence packaging took medications as prescribed compared to 49% patients with regular packaging. Automation allows central fill pharmacies to individually package and label high volumes of medications consistently and accurately as per patient's prescription schedule in one location.This "blister card" packaging simplifies the medication taking process for patients.
Growth in Pharmacy Benefit Management Outsourcing
Rising pharmacy benefit management (PBM) outsourcing provides an lucrative growth opportunity. PBMs look to reduce costs through centralized dispensing models. Central fill pharmacies automate high-volume prescription consolidation, sorting and pack-out for mail-order and specialty pharmacies. Their integrated technology addresses PBM needs around scalability, throughput, inventory optimization, improved patient services, and compliance. Leading PBMs are shifting to outsourced central fill partners to leverage maturity, scalability & flexibility of their automated infrastructure.
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/central-fill-pharmacy-automation-market-5189
Key Development
- On March 13, 2024, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a prominent medical technology firm, announced result of a research investigation assessing the effects of implementing automated dispensing cabinets in long-term care facilities along with an off-site, long-term care pharmacy
- In November 2023, Antares Vision Group's Automated Cart, recognized by ADI Design Index, focuses on functional ergonomics for operators. Selected annually by ADI, this award acknowledges exceptional Italian designs, emphasizing functionality and sustainability. Developed by Antares Vision Group's Digital Healthcare department in collaboration with IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, the Automated Cart is part of the Medication Management Platform (MMP), serving as the world's most advanced automated medication dispensing system for healthcare facilities.
- In October 2023,a cutting-edge automated drug dispensing machine, featuring a robotic arm, and developed independently by JVM, a subsidiary of Hanmi Science, a biopharma company was effectively introduced into the European market. This automatic dispensing machine is equipped with an articulated robotic arm, and is designed for large, factory-type dispensing pharmacies in Europe.
- In September 2020, CFaaS by McKesson, a publicly-traded American company that distributes pharmaceuticals and provides health information technology allows pharmacies to utilize central fill automation and expertise from Prescription Automation without upfront costs. This service eliminates the need for investing in equipment, inventory, or extra staff besides a pharmacist. Instead of a large upfront investment, pharmacies pay a per-prescription fee, significantly reducing dispensing costs. Central Fill as a ServiceTM provides a comprehensive solution to complex market challenges for pharmacies.
Key Players:
Omnicell, Inc., McKesson Corporation, ScriptPro LLC, Parata Systems, LLC, TCGRx (part of Becton, Dickinson, and Company), ARxIUM Inc., Innovation Associates (Part of Parata Systems), Swisslog Healthcare (subsidiary of the KUKA Group), RxSafe, LLC, Tension Packaging & Automation, Cornerstone Automation Systems, LLC (CASI), PillPick Automation System, Sinteco S.p.A., Yuyama Co., Ltd., R/X Automation Solutions, Kirby Lester (part of Capsa Healthcare), KUKA AG, iA (Intelligent Automation), GSE Scale Systems, Manchac Technologies, Neuralstem
