Market Trends of Global Pharmacy Automation Industry
The Automated Medication Dispensing Systems Segment is Expected to Witness Significant Growth During the Forecast Period
The automated medication dispensing systems segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the systems' ability to eliminate medication errors, decrease procedural time, and enhance patient safety concerns. In addition, these systems track narcotics and other controlled drugs, monitor drug usage patterns, and eliminate manual end-of-shift narcotic counts, especially in inpatient care units.
Additionally, a high infection rate boosted the demand for medication to be dispensed through automation to avoid cross-infections. For instance, according to a study published by Elsevier in April 2024, the overall prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in sub-Saharan Africa was reported to be 30%, the highest proportion compared to previous years. Hence, this infection count positively impacted the need for automated medication dispensing systems to reduce the burden on pharmacists, thus contributing to the segment's growth.
Automated dispensing systems also balance security, user-friendliness, inventory management, and control of medications, thereby driving their demand. Moreover, there is a growing demand for automated systems that help stock and inventory management. For instance, in March 2022, Capsa Healthcare expanded its NexsysADC automated dispensing cabinets suite. Nexysys can accommodate any size of controlled and highly valued medications or supplies in two new sizes of controlled access module drawers. The pharmacy automation system optimizes the flow of medication handling to ensure the achievement of high patient safety standards.
Therefore, the high burden of hospital-acquired infections and the adoption of automated dispensing systems will likely boost segment growth in the market during the forecast period.
North America Holds a Significant Share in the Pharmacy Automation Market During the Forecast Period
The North American pharmacy automation market holds a significant share due to the prevalence of various chronic disorders, the growing number of patients, technological advancements, and the presence of key market players.
The rising prevalence of chronic diseases among the Mexican population is expected to drive market growth in the region. According to the 2024 data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), an estimated 17 million adults in Mexico were projected to have diabetes by 2023. This number is anticipated to increase to 21.18 million by 2050. Similarly, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among the Canadian population is expected to contribute to the growth of the market. For instance, the Canadian Institute for Health Information data published in July 2022 reported that about 2.4 million Canadians had heart disease in 2022. The prevalence of chronic cardiovascular disorder and diabetes in North American countries is increasing the demand for pharmacy automation, thus contributing to the growth of the market in the region.
The acquisitions and new product launches are also driving the market growth in the region. For instance, in April 2024, in collaboration with JVM Manufacturing, Swisslog Healthcare, one of the key players in pharmacy and transport automation solutions, launched the ezCUT Automated Tablet Cutter in the North American market. The ezCUT is designed to enhance pharmacy workflows and expedite processing by automatically and accurately cutting oral solid medications, catering specifically to half-strength prescriptions.
In addition, in December 2022, Omnicell Inc. acquired ReCept Holdings Inc. The addition of ReCept's specialty pharmacy management services for health systems, provider groups, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) expanded Omnicell's advanced services portfolio to address the growing and complex specialty pharmacy market. These company activities likely increase the availability of pharmacy automation products, thereby boosting the market growth in the region.
Therefore, due to the high burden of chronic diseases and the company's strategic activities, the North American market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period.