More drug-dispensing kiosks on the way

From the Toronto Star:
Drug-dispensing machines tested in Toronto medical centres will be permanent fixtures across the province under a plan approved by the Ontario Hospital Association.

One of the machines linked around the clock to a pharmacist will be installed this week at Toronto’s Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre.

The hospital association has agreed to roll out the green and white kiosks after trials at three hospitals and a medical clinic over the past 2-1/2 years.

Hundreds more will be installed in far-flung communities across the province only after the Ontario College of Pharmacists approves new regulations, expected later this year, said Peter Suma, chief operating officer and co-founder PharmaTrust, the Oakville company that makes the machines.

Until then, the multilingual kiosks, which look like bank machines and are linked to live pharmacists, can be placed only in hospitals or doctors’ clinics, Suma said. ...more