Abstract

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POWERED AUTOMATION: ADVANCING DRUG DISPENSING SYSTEMS

Shanthi Priya R., Senthil Prabhu R.*, Umamaheswari D., Selva Kumari N., Sherley Rozzario J., Venkatarathinakumar T.

ABSTRACT

The evolution of drug dispensing practices in hospital pharmacies reflects the progressive integration of technology to enhance medication safety and efficiency. Traditionally, dispensing was performed manually by pharmacists, involving the selection, compounding, and labelling of drugs from bulk storage based on handwritten prescriptions. Although this system enabled individualized attention, it was inherently limited by human error, including inaccurate drug selection, misinterpretation of prescriptions, and labelling inconsistencies. Furthermore, the process was labour intensive, time-consuming, and offered minimal scope for patient counselling or comprehensive documentation. The transition to semi-automated and unit-dose dispensing systems mitigated several of these drawbacks by standardizing drug packaging, labelling, and storage. However, reliance on human oversight persisted, necessitating more intelligent systems capable of decision support and adaptive learning. The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has redefined hospital dispensing by integrating automation with data-driven cognition. AI technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP)enable precise prescription interpretation, real-time drug verification, and predictive inventory management. Advanced dispensing systems including ScriptPro SPCentral, PharmAssistROBOTx, Aethon MedEx, and Haier Biomedical Smart Pharmacy Systems exemplify the clinical implementation of AI-driven automation. Emerging platforms such as PharmacyGPT and TxAgent further integrate therapeutic reasoning and clinical decision support. Looking forward, AI is expected to play a pivotal role in developing predictive supply chain models, personalized medication dispensing, and collaborative pharmacy ecosystems. Collectively, these innovations signify a shift toward a safer, more intelligent, and patient-centered hospital pharmacy practice.

Keywords: Pharmacy GPT, Natural Language Processing(NLP), Innovation RX, Pharm Assist ROBOTx, Intelligent Dispensing Robots, Machine Learning, Smart Pharmacy Systems, Fred Dispense Plus.